Chapter 9 - Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endocytosis and Synaptic Vesicle Trafficking

Abstract

During the exocytosis of small clear vesicles, vesicle membranes fuse with the plasma membrane of the axon terminal. Many lines of experimental evidence show that following exocytosis, neurons selectively retrieve vesicular membrane from the plasma membrane and reuse it to create new synaptic vesicles that are subsequently used to release more neurotransmitter. This process of bringing vesicular membrane back into the presynaptic terminal is called endocytosis. We discuss three forms of endocytosis used by neurons.