Silvio Rizzoli
In this project we analysed the structure of synaptic vesicles by innovative X-ray methods, and found, among other findings, that synaptic vesicle structure changes strongly during neurotransmitter uptake. We also developed many technologies that will enable us, in the next funding period, to study whether proteins are organized in form of domains on the vesicles. If domains exist, we will also investigate how stereotypical these domains are, to understand the molecular organization of the vesicles. We will describe the morphology of the organelles and check whether proteins are organized into domains on these organelles. If these protein domains exist, we will also examine how stereotypical these domains are.