Accessory and Central α-helices of Complexin Selectively Activate Ca(2+) Triggering of Synaptic Exocytosis

Complexins, binding to assembling soluble NSF-attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes, activate Ca(2+) triggered exocytosis and clamp spontaneous release in the presynaptic terminal. Functions of complexin are structural dependent and mechanistically distinct. To further understand the functional/structural dependence of complexin, here we show that the accessory and central α-helices of complexin are sufficient in activation of Ca(2+) triggered vesicle fusion but not in clamping spontaneous release. Targeting the two α-helices to synaptic vesicle suppresses spontaneous release, thus further emphasizing the importance of curvature membrane localization in clamping function.