Membrane Transport at Synapses
Clathrin-mediated endocytosis not only regulates the cycling of presynaptic
neurotransmitter-ladden vesicles but also
recycling and degradation of postsynaptic ion channels during synaptic plasticity (fig. 1).
Figure 1: Presynaptic vesicles (SSVs) as well as postsynaptic ion channels undergo activity-dependent clathrin/ AP-2-mediated
endocytosis and recycling; Taken from: Shupliakov & Haucke (2006).
Together with the groups of Prof. Stephen Moss (Philadelphia, US) and Trevor Smart
(UCL, London, UK) we have discovered a novel type of AP-2 binding motif commonly found
in pre- and postsynaptic membrane proteins that associates with mu2-adaptin. We have
also been involved in the characterization of novel adaptor proteins regulating receptor
recycling versus lysosomal degradation.
Lastly, we are interested in the role of accessory proteins and adaptors
in establishing or maintaining neuronal polarity. In collaboration with
Drs. Carlos Dotti (Torino, Italy) and Rainer Peppertkok (EMBL, Heidelberg) we are
investigating the role of a novel AP-1 binding protein in neuronal protein sorting (fig. 2).
Figure 2: Localization of the endogenous novel AP-1-binding adaptor protein in neurons. Green: ;
red: synapsin, a synaptic vesicle associated axonal protein)
The role of this protein and its putative cargo molecules are now being investigated using biochemical
and cell biological means.
Last update: Nov, 2005 by Claus Rodemer
