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Role for Contractile Proteins in Transmitter Release?

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Neurotransmitter Interaction and Compartmentation

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series ((NSSA,volume 48))

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Abstract

Actin, myosin and tropomyosin have been identified in synaptosomal preparations (Puszkin et al., 1972; Blitz and Fine, 1974). Furthermore, actin (Blomberg et al., 1977; Cohen et al., 1977; Kelly and Cotman, 1978; Wang and Mahler, 1976; Schwartz et al., 1977; Mahler, 1977), myosin (Beach and Cotman, 1979) and the calcium regulator protein calmodulin (Grab et al., 1979; Lin et al., 1980; Wood et al., 1980) have been shown to be present in synaptic membrane sites. The physiological activity of the contractile proteins in synaptic membranes has not been established. It has been suggested that the actomyosin system present in nerve terminals may function in the release of transmitter materials at synaptic junctions (Poisner, 1970; Berl et al., 1973). Little direct evidence in support of such a function has been reported (Babitch et al., 1979).

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Berl, S., Nunez, R., Colon, A.D., Clarke, D.D. (1982). Role for Contractile Proteins in Transmitter Release?. In: Bradford, H.F. (eds) Neurotransmitter Interaction and Compartmentation. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 48. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1140-9_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1140-9_10

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