Killam Seminar Series: Molecular Basis of Synaptic Vesicle Fusion: New Insights into Munc13 and Complexin Function

Supported by the generosity of the Killam Trusts, the MNI's Killam Seminar Series invites outstanding guest speakers whose research is of interest to the scientific community at the MNI and McGill University.

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Jeremy Dittman, PhD

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA

Host: Wayne Sossin

Abstract: The mechanisms underlying synaptic vesicle docking, priming, and fusion have remained long-standing mysteries in molecular neuroscience. Munc13 (an essential presynaptic protein) governs vesicle capture, SNARE assembly, and fusion while complexin maintains vesicles in a ready state by inhibiting spontaneous fusion. New structural and biochemical findings and analysis of human mutations have helped shape a more complete picture of the events preceding vesicle fusion and the regulation of synaptic transmission.