complexin蛋白功能和作用机制保守性探究

神经递质释放是神经系统的基本功能。complexin蛋白是胞内可溶性小蛋白，能与SNARE复合体结合，通过与synaptotagmin协作调节神经递质释放。抑制complexin蛋白的表达会减少突触囊泡的同步释放，同时会增加囊泡的自发释放和异步释放。complexin蛋白的相对作用大小在物种之间有所不同。这提示我们complexin蛋白的功能可能随着物种进化有所变化，虽然具体是怎样变化的目前还不清楚。为了探索complexin蛋白的功能和作用机制在进化过程中的保守性，我们在小鼠脑皮层神经中引入一种原始生物nomastella的complexin同源物，nvCpx，替代内源性complexin。结合电生理、光学成像和分子生化等方法，探索nvCpx的功能和作用机制。通过本课题的研究，将进一步揭示complexin蛋白功能和作用机制在进化中的保守性，加深人们对神经递质释放机制的认识。

Neurotransmitter release is one of basic functions of neural system. Complexins, small soluble SNARE-complex binding proteins, mediates neurotransmitter release cooperating with synaptotagmin. Suppressing the expression of complexins decreases synchronous whereas increases spontaneous and asynchronous synaptic vesicle fusion. However, the relative effect magnitudes of complexins vary between species. It raises a hypothesis that complexins may progress their functions during evolution, although it remains unknown how they work. To test how stable are the functions and mechanisms of complexins during evolution, here we try to introduce a homolog in nomastella, nvCpx, to replace complexins' functions in mouse cortical neurons. With combined electrophysiology, imaging, molecular and biochemical measurements in this study, we are going to focus how much nvCpx can perform complexin I's roles and what are the mechanisms behind it. The stability of the functions and mechanisms of complexins will be verified and the mechanisms of synaptic transmission will be gone deep into with this study.