Unveiling the nanoscale organisation and dynamics of synaptic vesicle pools

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This project aims to uncover the role of key molecules in allowing brain cells to actively communicate with each other. Communication between neurons relies on the fusion of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters with the presynaptic plasma membrane. The addition of vesicular membrane is transient as the vesicles quickly reform from the plasma membrane and refill with neurotransmitter ready for subsequent rounds of fusion. This recycling process ensures that neurons communicate efficiently, however the underpinning mechanism is unknown. This project aims to use a recently developed single synaptic vesicle super-resolution tracking method to establish how Myosin-VI and Synapsin-IIa orchestrate this recycling in central and peripheral neurons. It will explain how neurons manage to preserve their ability to communicate.