Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Synaptotagmin: fusogenic role for calcium sensor?

Two recent studies focusing on synaptotagmin-1's role in synaptic vesicle fusion suggest that it may be key in bringing vesicle and target membranes together and in promoting SNARE assembly. The highly positive electrostatic potential of the synaptotagmin surface could catalyze fusion.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Synaptotagmin as a catalyst for fusion.
Figure 2: Possible pathways for Ca2+-stimulated membrane fusion of exocytosis.

References

  1. Sabatini, B.L. & Regehr, W.G. Nature 384, 170–172 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Weber, T. et al. Cell 92, 759–772 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fernandez-Chacon, R. et al. Nature 410, 41–49 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang, C.T., Bai, J., Chang, P.Y., Chapman, E.R. & Jackson, M.B. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 570, 295–307 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Arac, D. et al. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 13, 209–217 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Balla, A., Chicka, M.C., Tucker, W.C. & Chapman, E.R. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 13, 323–330 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Shao, X. et al. Neuron 18, 133–142 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Murray, D. & Honig, B. Mol. Cell 9, 145–154 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fernandez, I. et al. Neuron 32, 1057–1069 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chapman, E.R. & Davis, A.F. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 13995–14001 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wu, Y. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100, 2082–2087 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Damer, C.K. & Creutz, C.E. J. Biol. Chem. 269, 31115–31123 (1994).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen, X. et al. Biophys. J. 90, 2062–2074 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zimmerberg, J. & Chernomordik, L.V. Science 310, 1626–1627 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Chernomordik, L.V. & Kozlov, M.M. Cell 123, 375–382 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fuller, N., Benatti, C.R. & Rand, R.P. Biophys. J. 85, 1667–1674 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Weimbs, T., Mostov, K., Low, S.H. & Hofmann, K. Trends Cell Biol. 8, 260–262 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shao, X. et al. Neuron 18, 133–142 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Fix, M. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 7311–7316 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Feigenson, G.W. Biochemistry 25, 5819–5825 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zimmerberg, J., Cohen, F.S. & Finkelstein, A. Science 210, 906–908 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kuzmin, P.I., Zimmerberg, J., Chizmadzhev, Y.A. & Cohen, F.S. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 7235–7240 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Hamm, M. & Kozlov, M.M. 2000. Eur. Phys. J. E. 3, 323–335 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zimmerberg, J., Akimov, S. & Frolov, V. Synaptotagmin: fusogenic role for calcium sensor?. Nat Struct Mol Biol 13, 301–303 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb0406-301

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb0406-301

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing