After synaptic vesicle exocytosis, synaptic vesicle proteins must be retrieved from the plasma membrane, sorted away from other membrane proteins, and reconstituted into a functional synaptic vesicle. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an organism well suited for a genetic analysis of this process. In particular, three types of genetic studies have contributed to our understanding of synapt...

Many biological processes employ mechanisms involving the locations and interactions of multiple components. Given that most occur in three dimensions, simultaneous measurement three-dimensional is necessary. However, precise localization real time remains challenging. Here, we report a new microscopy technique to localize two spectrally distinct particles dimensions with an accuracy (2.35σ) te...

Abstract We establish a new genus of planocerid polyclad, Heteroplanocera gen. nov., based on species, H. katoi sp. collected at depth 245 m off the coast Izu Peninsula, West Pacific, Japan. nov. is distinguished from other genera by following characteristics: (i) pair nuchal tentacles, (ii) muscular bulb, (iii) spermiducal bulbs (instead seminal vesicle), (iv) free prostatic vesicle, (v) acces...

Lipid bilayer membranes have a native (albeit small) permeability for water molecules. Under an external load, provided that the structure stays intact and does not suffer from poration or rupture, lipid membrane deforms its influx/efflux is often assumed negligible in absence of osmolarity. In this work we use boundary integral simulations to investigate effects on vesicle hydrodynamics due me...

Does statistical copolymerization of n-butyl methacrylate with benzyl lower the critical temperature required for vesicle-to-worm and worm-to-sphere transitions diblock copolymer nano-objects in mineral oil?

Previous studies indicated that CAPS (calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion) functions as an essential component for the Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of dense-core vesicles in neuroendocrine cells. However, recent mouse knock-out studies suggested an alternative role in the vesicular uptake or storage of catecholamines. To genetically assess the functional role of CAPS, we characterize...

Large-scale and robust vesicle aggregates were obtained through molecular recognition among cell-sized polymer vesicles, carbon nanotubes and AuNPs, driven by adhesion interactions between Au and polydopamine. Vesicle fusion was effectively avoided in this three-component vesicle aggregation process.

At the heart of synaptic transmission resides the synaptic vesicle cycle – a membrane trafficking pathway in which small membrane-bound vesicles mediate the release of neurotransmitter from presynaptic terminals. The cycle resembles general membrane trafficking and has three phases: vesicle filling, release and recycling. During filling, neurotransmitter is loaded into vesicles via vesicular ne...

Temperature-controlled vesicle aggregation was investigated in a catanionic surfactant system of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate/n-dodecyltributylammonium bromide. Vesicle aggregation took place as the temperature reached the critical value (Tc). Tc can be adjusted by the variations of the total surfactant concentration and the mixed molar ratio. It was also found that the temperature variation above ...