Molecular architecture of synaptic vesicles and clathrin-coated vesicles revealed by cryo-electron tomography

July 28, 2026Open Access

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key Points

To understand the molecular architecture and variability of synaptic vesicles and their recycling mechanisms.
Used cryo-electron tomography to visualize synaptic vesicles isolated from mouse brain and cultured hippocampal neurons.
Applied subtomogram averaging to identify complexes involving the V-ATPase and unknown membrane proteins.
Combined proteomics with cryo-ET for protein identification.
Identified random distribution of V-ATPase in the vesicle membrane, indicating cluster formation is not necessary for its function.
Discovered a complex of V-ATPase with the unknown membrane protein, later identified as Synaptophysin.
Documented subpopulations of synaptic vesicles with partially disassembled clathrin coats and identified clathrin 'baskets' near the membrane.

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Reveals molecular organization of synaptic vesicles in neurons, indicating new recycling mechanisms.

No abstract yet. The journal hasn't published one we can show.

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Uljana Kravčenko (2026) studied this question.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share