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PMID: 10526333 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

UNC-13 is required for synaptic vesicle fusion in C. elegans.

Nature neuroscience ·Vol. 2 ·No. 11 ·1999-11-00 ·Pages 959-64

Richmond JE, Davis WS, Jorgensen EM

Abstract

We analyzed the synaptic physiology of unc-13 mutants in the nematode C. elegans. Mutants of unc-13 had normal nervous system architecture, and the densities of synapses and postsynaptic receptors were normal at the neuromuscular junction. However, the number of synaptic vesicles at neuromuscular junctions was two- to threefold greater in unc-13 mutants than in wild-type animals. Most importantly, evoked release at both GABAergic and cholinergic synapses was almost absent in unc-13 null alleles, as determined by whole-cell, voltage-clamp techniques. Although mutant synapses had morphologically docked vesicles, these vesicles were not competent for release as assayed by spontaneous release in calcium-free solution or by the application of hyperosmotic saline. These experiments support models in which UNC-13 mediates either fusion of vesicles during exocytosis or priming of vesicles for fusion.

MeSH Terms
Alleles Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics,physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins Carrier Proteins Helminth Proteins/genetics,physiology Mutation Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics,physiology Neuromuscular Junction/physiology Synaptic Transmission/physiology Synaptic Vesicles/physiology
Chemicals
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins Carrier Proteins Helminth Proteins Nerve Tissue Proteins phorbol ester binding protein
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Richmond J E
Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0840, USA.
Davis W S
Jorgensen E M
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Article Info
Journal
Nature neuroscience
Abbr.
Nat Neurosci
ISSN
1097-6256
DOI
10.1038/14755
Published
1999-11-00
Pages
959-64
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
9809671
PMCID
PMC2585767
Subset
IM
Grants
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS034307 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS34307 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R03 MH059820-01 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R03 MHS9820-01 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R03 MH059820-02 · United States
AHRQ HHS · R03 HS009820 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/14755 PMC Full Text View journal details
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