About this Research Topic
Super-resolution imaging techniques have become a reliable and crucial source to visualize cellular dynamics. Over the past two decades, the development of super-resolution microscopy platforms has advanced to illuminate dynamics in synaptic transmission with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolutions. Understanding such dynamics is essential as many processes, such as communications among neurons, are governed by synaptic transmission. Disruption of any intermediate steps (e.g. vesicle transport and fusion) would result in impaired neurological functions and neurodegeneration such as those in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Mechanisms in these intermediate steps are often complex as multiple proteins are involved in a murky spatiotemporal manner. In this regard, recent studies using super-resolution imaging techniques such as 3D STED microscopy have unraveled detailed dynamics in the mechanisms related to synaptic functions and helped with the mechanistic understanding of these intermediate steps.
These new techniques have revolutionized our understanding of the variety of dynamics underlying vesicle fusion and endocytosis, that until recently were previously unobservable either in dimensions of space or time. There is now a greater understanding of the dynamics underlying changes in vesicle size, pore size, fusion states, and endocytosis over time, thanks to the advent of super-resolution microscopy allowing to zoom in on the steps involved in synaptic transmission.
This Research Topic aims to gather insights and further our knowledge on the intermediate steps in synaptic transmission, with a methodology-driven approach. Discussing the collective efforts in the field of synaptic transmission and advanced imaging techniques with a systematic approach will be beneficial to researchers studying neuronal functions and dynamics.
We aim to organize consolidated knowledge in the field through expert contributions relevant to synaptic transmission and advanced light imaging techniques.
We welcome submissions on advanced imaging platforms use to visualize:
1. Mechanism of vesicle transport, priming & docking
2. Intermediate steps in SNARE-mediated membrane fusion
3. Molecular mechanisms of calcium-triggered exocytosis
4. Membrane dynamics of exo- and endocytosis
Dr Christian Würm is one of the founders of Abberior Instruments GmbH. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
These new techniques have revolutionized our understanding of the variety of dynamics underlying vesicle fusion and endocytosis, that until recently were previously unobservable either in dimensions of space or time. There is now a greater understanding of the dynamics underlying changes in vesicle size, pore size, fusion states, and endocytosis over time, thanks to the advent of super-resolution microscopy allowing to zoom in on the steps involved in synaptic transmission.
This Research Topic aims to gather insights and further our knowledge on the intermediate steps in synaptic transmission, with a methodology-driven approach. Discussing the collective efforts in the field of synaptic transmission and advanced imaging techniques with a systematic approach will be beneficial to researchers studying neuronal functions and dynamics.
We aim to organize consolidated knowledge in the field through expert contributions relevant to synaptic transmission and advanced light imaging techniques.
We welcome submissions on advanced imaging platforms use to visualize:
1. Mechanism of vesicle transport, priming & docking
2. Intermediate steps in SNARE-mediated membrane fusion
3. Molecular mechanisms of calcium-triggered exocytosis
4. Membrane dynamics of exo- and endocytosis
Dr Christian Würm is one of the founders of Abberior Instruments GmbH. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: Synaptic transmission, vesicle transport, priming docking, fusion, exocytosis, membrane fission, endocytosis, super-resolution imaging
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