Examining Dynamic Aspects of Presynaptic Terminal Formation Via Live Confocal Microscopy
Author: Luke Andrew Dascenzo Bury
Publisher:
Published: 2015
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKTo create a presynaptic terminal, molecular signaling events must be orchestrated within a number of subcellular compartments. In the soma, presynaptic proteins need to be synthesized, packaged together, and attached to microtubule motors for shipment through the axon. Within the axon, transport of presynaptic packages is regulated in order to ensure that developing synapses receive an adequate supply of components. At individual axonal sites, extracellular interactions must be translated into intracellular signals that can incorporate mobile transport vesicles into the nascent presynaptic terminal. Even once the initial recruitment process is complete, the components and subsequent functionality of presynaptic terminals need to constantly be remodeled. Perhaps most remarkably, all of these processes need to be coordinated in space and time. In this dissertation, I will discuss how these dynamic cellular processes occur in neurons of the central nervous system in order to generate presynaptic terminals in the brain, and describe experiments to further elucidate these mechanisms.
