Cysteine string proteins: a potential link between synaptic vesicles and presynaptic Ca2+ channels.

Presynaptic calcium channels are key regulators of neurotransmitter release. Oocyte expression studies suggest that cysteine string proteins are essential subunits or modulators of these channels. Subcellular fractionation revealed that cysteine string proteins copurify with synaptic vesicles. An average vesicle had eight protein monomers with both the amino and carboxyl termini detected on the cytoplasmic face. Thus, docked synaptic vesicles may regulate presynaptic calcium channels and neurotransmitter release.