The talk started with basics of synaptic transmission covering pre and post synaptic dynamics. LTP was taken as an example to explain the dynamics.
Salient discussions of the talk:
- The structure of a typical synapse. Types of synapse. Role of specific proteins in the synaptic transmission (Synaptotagmin being the Ca2+ sensor and so on)
- Readily releasable pool, recycling pool and resting pool. What trigger and control these sets? How to study vesicle pool dynamics using FM dyes and PHluorins.
- Use of BAF and NH4Cl to control fluorescence to differentiate total resting pool and resting pool was interesting.
- The receptors are moving/dynamic entities which exhibits lateral diffusion triggered lots of queries and discussions.
- MK-801 aka Dizocilpine is an NMDA antagonist. The binding site of MK801 is inside the receptor, so there should be a depolarisation in the first place for the MK801 to block the site. This aspect was conceptualized as an experiment to study receptor movement.
- 2 photon excitation microscopy can be used to study synaptic dynamics.
- Kandel's Principles of Neural Science.
- The presynaptic active zone, Sudhof, 2012, Neuron
- CDK5 Serves as a Major Control Point in Neurotransmitter Release, Kim and Ryan, 2010, Neuron.