Stationary dense-core vesicles depend on the CAPS-1 protein to fuse with the presynaptic membrane.

Munc13 proteins are key determinants of large dense-core vesicle (LDCV)-dependent catecholamine release in chromaffin cells.

SNARE protein tomosyn differentially affects two main secretory pathways in mammalian neurons.

Synaptotagmin-7 acts synergistically with synaptotagmin-1 by placing vesicles close to the plasma membrane within reach of the SNARE/Munc13-complex, supporting their priming and setting the stage for fast and slow fusion.

The priming protein ubMunc13-2 and Synaptotagmin-7 cooperate with phorbolesters/diacylglycerol to stimulate vesicle priming in adrenal chromaffin cells, whereas phorbolesters/diacylglycerol interacting with Munc13-1 inhibit vesicle fusion, which identifies opposing functions of these two Munc13 proteins.

A series of genetically-encoded fluorescent reporters that allow imaging of neuropeptide release in vivo, with sub-second temporal and nerve terminal-level spatial resolution are developed.

Live imaging at single-vesicle resolution reveals rabphilin-3A as the first identified negative regulator of neuropeptide release in mammalian neurons.

3D serial electron microscopy reveals that individual dopamine axons in the nucleus accumbens contain different varicosity types based on their vesicle contents, rarely make synapses, and undergo major structural plasticity in response to cocaine.

In vivo live imaging reveals the trafficking dynamics of three cellular organelles in neocortical axons with single vesicle resolution and demonstrates activity-dependent changes.