Liquid–liquid phase separation in presynaptic nerve terminals

Abstract

The presynaptic nerve terminal is crucial for transmitting signals to the adjacent cell. To fulfill this role, specific proteins with distinct functions are concentrated in spatially confined areas within the nerve terminals. A recent concept termed liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) has provided new insights into how this process may occur. In this review, we aim to summarize the LLPS of proteins in different parts of the presynaptic nerve terminals, including synaptic vesicle (SV) clusters, the active zone (AZ), and the endocytic zone, with an additional focus on neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), where the functional relevance of these properties is explored. Last, we propose new perspectives and future directions for the role of LLPS in presynaptic nerve terminals.