Shigeki Watanabe

The paper shows microglia extract proteolytic organelles from neurons via a process called skoupocytosis, which bypasses retrograde transport and aids neuronal homeostasis.

This study identifies an ancient monoaminergic system in sponges that coordinates contractility through tryptamine signaling, predating neurons.

The paper uses zap-and-freeze electron microscopy to study synaptic vesicle dynamics in mouse and human brain slices, revealing conserved endocytic mechanisms.

This study shows transcytosis of TrkA receptors in sympathetic neurons is essential for presynaptic site formation and synaptic transmission.

The paper shows that Intersectin-1 and Endophilin A1 form condensates near synaptic release sites to cluster replacement vesicles, enabling rapid replenishment of neurotransmitter release sites.

The paper shows that inhibitory synapses in mouse cortical neurons have ultrafast endocytosis depots similar to excitatory synapses, suggesting similar endocytic mechanisms.

This study examines the ultrastructural changes in synapses of the rodent lateral superior olive from birth to hearing onset, revealing synaptic remodeling that may support synaptic refinement.

This study identifies Doc2 as the major Ca2+ sensor for asynchronous release and shows that syt7 supports vesicle docking, with combined effects on synaptic function.

This study shows that axon morphology and function are influenced by membrane mechanics, with activity modulating cholesterol levels and affecting conduction velocity.

The paper shows that CaV1 and CaV2 calcium channels in C. elegans neuromuscular junctions mediate the release of distinct synaptic vesicle pools.

This paper introduces optoSynC, an optogenetic tool that rapidly and reversibly silences synaptic transmission by clustering synaptic vesicles in C. elegans.

The paper shows that Dynamin 1xA forms molecular condensates with Syndapin 1 at endocytic sites, enabling ultrafast endocytosis by bypassing the recruitment step.

The paper shows that Dynamin 1xA and Syndapin 1 form liquid-like condensates at synapses, which facilitate ultrafast endocytosis by enabling molecular crowding and intermolecular interactions.

This study investigates the role of SYT7 in synaptic function by analyzing its localization and effects on vesicle docking and synaptic plasticity in mouse hippocampal neurons.

SynapsEM is a computer program that automates synapse morphometry by recording coordinates from segmented structures and calculating synaptic parameters in Matlab.

The paper studies synaptic vesicle dynamics at mouse hippocampal synapses, showing rapid and reversible recruitment of vesicles to release sites after action potentials.

The paper shows that asynchronous release sites are positioned to enhance NMDA receptor activation by reducing magnesium block.

The paper identifies a novel activity-dependent mechanism involving Hrs and KIF13A for axonal transport of ESCRT machinery to facilitate synaptic vesicle protein degradation.

The paper develops iPOLYMER, a method to induce protein-based hydrogels in living cells, mimicking RNA granules by sequestering polyadenine-containing nucleotides.

This study identifies NCA-1 and NCA-2 as downstream targets of the Gq/Rho pathway in C. elegans, showing their role in regulating locomotion through neuronal activity.