Counting Vesicular Release Events Reveals Binomial Release Statistics at Single Glutamatergic Synapses

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2016 Apr 8

PMID 27053208

Citations 32

Authors

Gerardo Malagon

Takafumi Miki

Isabel Llano

Erwin Neher

Alain Marty

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Significance Statement: It is generally accepted that the output signal of individual central synapses saturates at high release probability, but it remains unclear whether the source of saturation is presynaptic, postsynaptic, or both presynaptic and postsynaptic. To clarify this and other issues concerning the function of synapses, we have developed new recording and analysis methods at single central glutamatergic synapses. We find that individual release events engage a high proportion of postsynaptic receptors (62%), revealing a larger component of postsynaptic saturation than anticipated. Conversely, we also find that the number of released synaptic vesicles is limited at each active zone. Altogether, our results argue for both presynaptic and postsynaptic contributions to signal saturation at single glutamatergic synapses.

Citing Articles

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A maximum of two readily releasable vesicles per docking site at a cerebellar single active zone synapse.

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