Bruchpilot Promotes Active Zone Assembly, Ca 2+ Channel Clustering, and Vesicle Release

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1126308
• Publication Date: 2006-04-14T01:11:02Z
• Authors: Robert J. Kittel; Carolin Wichmann; Tobias M. Rasse; Wernher Fouquet; Manuela Schmidt; Andreas Schmid; Dhananjay A. Wagh; Christian Pawlu; Robert R. Kellner; Katrin I. Willig; Stefan W. Hell; Erich Buchner; Manfred Heckmann; Stephan J. Sigrist
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; ddc:610; Models, Neurological; Presynaptic Terminals; Action Potentials; Nerve Tissue Proteins; 03 medical and health sciences; Larva; Mutation; Synapses; Animals; Drosophila Proteins; Drosophila; Female; Calcium Channels; Synaptic Vesicles

The molecular organization of presynaptic active zones during calcium influx–triggered neurotransmitter release is the focus of intense investigation. The Drosophila coiled-coil domain protein Bruchpilot (BRP) was observed in donut-shaped structures centered at active zones of neuromuscular synapses by using subdiffraction resolution STED (stimulated emission depletion) fluorescence microscopy. At brp mutant active zones, electron-dense projections (T-bars) were entirely lost, Ca 2+ channels were reduced in density, evoked vesicle release was depressed, and short-term plasticity was altered. BRP-like proteins seem to establish proximity between Ca 2+ channels and vesicles to allow efficient transmitter release and patterned synaptic plasticity.