Citation

Farsi Z, Jahn R, Woehler A. Bioessays 2017; 39(5): e201600240.

Affiliation

Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Berlin, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, International Council of Scientific Unions, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/bies.201600240

PMID

28383767

Abstract

Accumulation of neurotransmitters in the lumen of synaptic vesicles (SVs) relies on the activity of the vacuolar-type H(+) -ATPase. This pump drives protons into the lumen, generating a proton electrochemical gradient (ΔμH+ ) across the membrane. Recent work has demonstrated that the balance between the chemical (ΔpH) and electrical (ΔΨ) components of ΔμH+ is regulated differently by some distinct vesicle types. As different neurotransmitter transporters use ΔpH and ΔΨ with different relative efficiencies, regulation of this gradient balance has the potential to influence neurotransmitter uptake. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this regulation remain poorly understood. In this review, we provide an overview of current neurotransmitter uptake models, with a particular emphasis on the distinct roles of the electrical and chemical gradients and current hypotheses for regulatory mechanisms.

© 2017 WILEY Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

buffering capacity; ion-proton exchangers; neurotransmitter uptake; proton electrochemical gradient; proton pump; vesicular transporters