Compound Fusion Allows for Huge Bursts of Neurotransmitter Release

This template was adapted from the original submission. Edits were made to enhance scientific accuracy, optimal usability and/or to meet industry-leading design standards for science communication. The ribbon synapses of photoreceptors are able to produce huge bursts of transmitter release. These bursts encode sudden changes in light intensity. Ribbon synapses achieve this by homotypic compound fusion. This means that vesicles docked at ribbons fuse with each other via SNARE proteins. They collapse into a large vesicle. This super-vesicle then docks at the plasma membrane and fuses. Thus, a huge amount of transmitter is released all at once.

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