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SUMMARY:Milstein Lecture- Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission - 
 Thomas Südhof\, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology\, Stanfor
 d
DTSTART:20170209T160000Z
DTEND:20170209T170000Z
UID:TALK70280@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Scientific Meetings Co-ordinator
DESCRIPTION:Thomas Sudhofs research investigates how neurons in brain comm
 unicate with each other during synaptic transmission\, which is the proces
 s that underlies all brain activity\, from simple reflexes to consciousnes
 s and memory. When stimulated\, a presynaptic neuron releases neurotransmi
 tters diffuse across the synaptic cleft to stimulate postsynaptic receptor
 s. Synaptic transmission is initiated by neurotransmitter release\, and co
 mpleted with the postsynaptic response. However\, synaptic transmission is
  more than just the transfer of information between neurons-synaptic trans
 mission also processes the transferred information. Each synapses integrea
 tes temporal and spatial information and is plastic. As a result\, synapse
 s are naocomputers that remember previous events and that constitutes the 
 minimal information processing unit in brain.\nThomas Sudhofs laboratory s
 tudies three related questions about synapses: How are presynaptic and pos
 tsynaptic components of a synapse organized in molecular terms to allow ra
 pid transfer of information\, including ultrafast release of neurotransmit
 ters? How is synaptic plasticity achieved? And finally\, how is a synapse 
 formed\, specified and maintained or eliminated in a circuit-specific fash
 ion? The talk will focus on the first question\, and specifically describe
  the molecular machines that allow pre- and postsynaptic function and enab
 le plasticity of release. The talk will revolve around one particular fami
 ly of molecules\, calcium-binding proteins called synaptotagmins\, that ar
 e master organizers of pre- and postsynaptic membrane traffic\, and will d
 iscuss recent results that provide insight into the intricate nanoarchitec
 ture that allows a synapse to function rapidly and precisely.\n
LOCATION:Max Perutz Lecture Theatre\, Medical Research Council (MRC) (MRC 
 Laboratory of Molecular Biol
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