Molecular Components of Vesicle Cycling at the Rod Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapse.

Rod photoreceptors are light-sensitive neurons of the retina that support vision in dim light. A rod cell consists of an outer segment for phototransduction, an inner segment and soma for energy production and protein synthesis, and a synaptic terminal for vesicle release onto second-order neurons-bipolar and horizontal cells. Mouse rods contain a single ribbon synaptic release site, where vesicles filled with glutamate are released at a rate of up to ~20 vesicles/synapse/second. This high release rate requires a fine balance between synaptic vesicle exocytosis and endocytosis. Here, we review the properties of synaptic transmission and highlight proteins essential for synaptic vesicle recycling at the rod ribbon synapse.

Duke Scholars

Author Vadim Y Arshavsky Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery