View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector Neuron Review Molecular Mechanisms of Presynaptic Membrane Retrieval and Synaptic Vesicle Reformation Natalia L. Kononenko1,2 and Volker Haucke1,2,* 1Leibniz Institut fu¨ r Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and Freie Universita¨ t Berlin, Robert-Roessle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany 2Charite Universita¨ tsmedizin, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Virchowweg 6, 10117 Berlin, Germany *Correspondence:
[email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.12.016 The function of the nervous system depends on the exocytotic release of neurotransmitter from synaptic ves- icles (SVs). To sustain neurotransmission, SV membranes need to be retrieved, and SVs have to be reformed locally within presynaptic nerve terminals. In spite of more than 40 years of research, the mechanisms under- lying presynaptic membrane retrieval and SV recycling remain controversial. Here, we review the current state of knowledge in the field, focusing on the molecular mechanism involved in presynaptic membrane retrieval and SV reformation. We discuss the challenges associated with studying these pathways and pre- sent perspectives for future research. Introduction biochemical studies that had identified SVs as store for non- Communication within the nervous system relies on the release peptide neurotransmitters (Whittaker, 1969). Evidence for SV of neurotransmitter by the calcium-triggered fusion of synaptic recycling and their endocytic origin was gathered by morpholog- vesicles (SVs) with the presynaptic plasma membrane at the ical studies based on the uptake of extracellular ‘‘tracers’’ such nerve terminal. The number of vesicles available for fusion and as horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the SV lumen (Figure 1B) their propensity to undergo exocytosis define the efficacy of (Holtzman et al., 1971) and by electron microscopic analyses neurotransmitter release and fine-tune neuronal function.