The size of the otoferlin molecule and its low solubility have made it difficult to study, including how otoferlin works differently than another neuronal calcium sensor in the brain, synaptotagmin. (sciencedaily.com)
Nicholas Steinmetz and colleagues found that some mice expressing the genetically - encoded calcium sensor GCaMP6 display brief bursts of electrical activity, commonly observed in epileptic patients and animal models. (sciencedaily.com)
Südhof then made use of the emerging power of mouse genetics to delineate the functional role of a number of these vesicle proteins including the role of synaptotagmin, which he demonstrated to be the critical calcium sensor for rapid neurotransmitter release. (kavliprize.org)