BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:“Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission&quot\; - Professo
 r in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology in the School of 
 Medicine at Stanford University
DTSTART:20170209T160000Z
DTEND:20170209T170000Z
UID:TALK70943@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Shannon Tinley-Browne
DESCRIPTION:Thomas Südhof’s research investigates how neurons in the br
 ain communicate with each other during synaptic transmission\, which is th
 e process that underlies all brain activity\, from simple reflexes to cons
 ciousness and memory. When stimulated\, a presynaptic neuron releases neur
 otransmitters that diffuse across the synaptic cleft to stimulate postsyna
 ptic receptors. Synaptic transmission is initiated by neurotransmitter rel
 ease\, and completed with the postsynaptic response. However\, synaptic tr
 ansmission is more than just the transfer of information between neurons 
 – synaptic transmission also processes the transferred information. Each
  synapse integrates temporal and spatial information and is plastic. As a 
 result\, synapses are nanocomputers that remember previous events and cons
 titute the minimal information processing unit in brain.\n\nThomas’ lab 
 studies three related questions about synapses: How are presynaptic and po
 stsynaptic components of a synapse organised in molecular terms to allow r
 apid transfer of information\, including ultrafast release of neurotransmi
 tters? How is synaptic plasticity achieved? And finally\, how is a synapse
  formed\, specified and maintained or eliminated in a circuit-specific fas
 hion? The talk will focus on the first question\, and specifically describ
 e the molecular machines that allow pre- and postsynaptic function and ena
 ble plasticity of release. The talk will revolve around one particular fam
 ily of molecules\, calcium-binding proteins called synaptotagmins\, that a
 re master organisers of pre- and postsynaptic membrane traffic\, and will 
 discuss recent results that provide insight into the intricate nanoarchite
 cture that allows a synapse to function rapidly and precisely.\n
LOCATION:LMB’s Max Perutz Lecture Theatre
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR