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Abstract
Synaptic transmission is a process through which neurotransmitter is released from vesicles and triggers a subsequent postsynaptic voltage change. Such interneuronal communication lies at the heart of brain function and is relevant to neurological diseases. The key step in synaptic transmission, vesicle fusion, is driven by highly localized Ca2+ entry through presynaptic voltage-activated Ca2+ channels (VACCs), which open in response to an action potential. However, vesicle fusion can also occur spontaneously in the absence of an action potential, and the role of VACCs in regulating this form of release is not understood. This lack of knowledge is a major obstacle to fully understanding the process of neurotransmitter release and its underlying regulatory mechanisms.