This Research Topic is part of the Molecular Nanomachines of the Presynaptic Terminal series.

Molecular Nanomachines of the Presynaptic Terminal

Given the great interest this Research Topic received previously we have decided to revisit this Topic to provide an up-to-date view on recent developments in Volume II.

Synaptic transmission is the basis of neuronal communication, and changes in synaptic transmission can result in the formation or dissolution of memories and can also lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders. Synaptic function is based on the coordinated work of highly organized multi-protein machineries, which interact dynamically in order to provide responses optimally suited to the needs of the neuronal network. In order to decipher synaptic and neuronal function, it is essential to understand the organizational, morphological, and functional aspects of the molecular nanomachines that form the synapse. The field of synaptic transmission now contains a rich palette of wide-ranging studies that analyze the entire makeup of the synapse, or of some of its machineries. We feel that reviews on synaptic transmission should not lag behind this trend in synaptic science. Therefore, we propose a Research Topic based on the molecular nanomachines of the synapse, updating and enhancing our initial communication on “Molecular Nanomachines of the Presynaptic Terminal”. We propose to assemble a strong team that will describe the different machines of the presynaptic bouton, in all of their aspects.

The following machines will be tackled:

- The active zone, where the vesicles fuse, with specific reviews dealing on its morphology, on its protein composition, and on its dynamics, both in general and in specialized synapses

- The peri-active zone, where the vesicle endocytosis takes place

- The neurotransmitter release machinery

- The vesicle recycling clathrin-connected machinery

- The adhesion complexes

- The synaptic cytoskeleton

- The core of the synaptic vesicle cluster

- The synaptic vesicle itself

- Different models of nanomachinery assembly in the synapse, from scaffolds to phase separation

We feel that this focused topic will go along with the current wave of proteomic and functional research in the synapse, and will therefore help in fine-tuning questions on the many unknown issues in the synapse, as well as instructing the younger generations of neuronal researchers.

Impact

Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience