The course at a glance

Signal transfer and processing in the brain relies on the spatial and temporal exquisitely controlled release of neurotransmitters, which are stored in synaptic vesicles (SVs). Precursors of SVs bud at the ER and are transported along the secretory pathway and the cytoskeleton to the nerve terminal. Upon docking at the active zone of the pre-synaptic plasma membrane, SVs mature to form a readily-releasable pool. The arrival of an action potential locally increases Ca²⁺ which triggers exocytosis in less than one millisecond. In addition, to generate and maintain the large plasma membrane surface of neurons, bulk lipid transfer is required. Thus, synaptic function relies on profound cargo and lipid flux and on organizational principles to recycle and enrich distinct sets of proteins/lipids in local functional and dynamic environments. Recent developments and improvements of techniques, including high resolution imaging, in vitro reconstitution, electrophysiology, molecular modelling, and biophysics have revealed detailed and unsurpassed insights into the molecular components/mechanisms, structural architecture, signaling pathways and pathogenesis of neurotransmitter release.

The FEBS Advanced Lecture Course ‘Molecular mechanisms of synaptic vesicle dynamics’ targets an integrated view of synaptic vesicle dynamics, bringing together experts working at the forefront of highly relevant and related topics including membrane trafficking, lipid dynamics, neuronal exocytosis and the organization of supramolecular structures and molecular condensates. There will be daily talks with special emphasis on molecular mechanisms, function-structure relationships, molecular causes of neurological disease, and state of the art technologies. The course will be organized in an informal setting. Poster sessions, short presentations, round table discussions, informal meet-the-expert-on-the beach sessions, and dinners of small groups with individual speakers in local restaurants will stimulate interactions between the participants and the lecturers. 

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