Information Released on the Synapse HugoBellenNeurotransmitter Release: Frontiers in Molecular Biology1999Oxford University PressLondon458 pp. $120.00

adult neuromuscular system (Fernandes and Keshi-need to be docked to the active zone before they can fuse with the membrane. How vesicles recognize the shian, chapter 10) and networks controlling motor neu-ron activity in the adult (Trimarchi et al., chapter 11). active zone and remain docked there (and not elsewhere in the presynaptic plasma membrane) remains largely a They illustrate how relatively little we know about the adult fly when compared to the embryo and the third mystery. Although there is evidence for the role of rab proteins and SNARE proteins in the docking step, nei-instar larvae. Many features of adult development seem to be different when compared to that of embryos, and ther class appears currently to have all the attributes of a molecular device mediating selective target recognition. the neuronal circuitry of the adult is quite complicated. However, I anticipate that studies of adult fly NMJs will Once docked, vesicles are thought to undergo matura-tion reactions, referred to as priming, before they be-become more and more popular as new electrophysio-logical preparations for NMJs are developed. The last come fusion competent. Then, an increase in intratermi-nal calcium leads to fusion of the vesicle with the plasma chapter provides a nice springboard to the future as it illustrates how some of the more simple adult circuits membrane—this step probably involves the SNARE proteins , but the exact nature of the reaction leading to can already be tackled. For a novice, this book is very useful as it covers a fusion is unclear at present. Once exocytosis occurs, vesicular components are retrieved for reuse by clathrin-lot of ground and is clearly written. For those working in the field it is a nice reference work. A more extensive mediated, and perhaps other forms of endocytosis. The recycling machinery at the synapse no doubt has much coverage of many of the topics covered here should soon be considered. in common with other cellular endocytic pathways. The key components of the endocytic machinery are being uncovered, but the exact signals for and mechanisms Hugo J. Bellen of endocytosis remain hidden. Howard Hughes Medical Institute A remarkable similarity of proteins involved in secre-Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, tion in different cell types and across species has al-Cell and Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience lowed the integration of data from different model sys-and Program in Developmental Biology tems and organisms. For example, homologs of many Baylor …