Hugo J. Bellen, Ph.D., D.V.M.

Molecular & Human Genetics

Molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release: a genetic dissection

Dr. Bellen was recognized for the identification and genetic dissection of the molecular events responsible for the release of neurotransmitter from the nerve terminal and demonstration that synaptotagmin acts as a calcium detector in this process.

Dr. Bellen’s nomination was based on the following publications:

Littleton JT, Stern M, Schulze K, Perin M, Bellen HJ." Mutational analysis of Drosophila synaptotagmin demonstrates its essential role in Ca(2+)-activated neurotransmitter release.".Cell. 1993 Sep 24;74(6):947-50.

Schulze KL, Littleton JT, Salzberg A, Halachmi N, Stern M, Lev Z, Bellen HJ. " rop, a Drosophila homolog of yeast Sec1 and vertebrate n-Sec1/Munc-18 proteins, is a negative regulator of neurotransmitter release in vivo. ". Neuron. 1994 Nov;13(5):1099-108.

Littleton JT, Stern M, Perin M, Bellen HJ. " Calcium dependence of neurotransmitter release and rate of spontaneous vesicle fusions are altered in Drosophila synaptotagmin mutants. ".Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Nov 8;91(23):10888-92.

Schulze KL, Broadie K, Perin MS, Bellen HJ. " Genetic and electrophysiological studies of Drosophila syntaxin-1A demonstrate its role in nonneuronal secretion and neurotransmission. ". Cell. 1995 Jan 27;80(2):311-20.