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Abstract

Chemical synapses are essential for neuronal processing of information. Synaptic plasticity, the ability to alter the strength of a synapse, is the basis for learning and higher cognitive functions. The properties of synaptic transmission are strongly affected by the organisation of synaptic vesicles (SV) into SV pools. The majority of SV pool concepts agrees on the following three main classes: the readily releasable pool (RRP), which is capable of immediately responding to an AP event, 2) the recycling pool which consists of SVs that are actively participating in the SV cycle but are not release-competent yet, and 3) the reserve pool which is comprised of SVs that are immobile or irresponsive under physiological conditions; the latter also being referred to as “mature” SVs. This maturation process is tightly linked to the age of a given SV and therefore must include a molecular or spatial marker of sort. A handful of candidate proteins has been investigated in vitro but convincing evidence in vivo is lackin