Content

Exocytosis and recovery (endocytosis) of synaptic vesicles are central ingredients of the function of the synapse. Using computer simulation of coarse-grained molecular models, we will test, under which conditions fusion can be stopped and reverted to endocytosis. The role of multiple environment parameters on the change of membrane topology will be investigated: 1) lipid properties, 2) the role of SNARE fusion proteins and fission proteins of the dynamin family, and 3) intermembrane and membrane geometry.