The synaptic vesicle cycle

a cascade of protein-protein interactions

Sudhof, Thomas C.

Thomas C. Sudhof is in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas 75235, U.S.A.

Nature 375(6533):p 645-653, June 22, 1995.

The synaptic vesicle cycle at the nerve terminal consists of vesicle exocytosis with neurotransmitter release, endocytosis of empty vesicles, and regeneration of fresh vesicles. Of all cellular transport pathways, the synaptic vesicle cycle is the fastest and the most tightly regulated. A convergence of results now allows formulation of molecular models for key steps of the cycle. These developments may form the basis for a mechanistic understanding of higher neural function.