SNAREs are proteins that tether. v-SNAREs are tethered to vesicles. t-SNAREs are tethered to the presynaptic membrane and attach to v-SNAREs to begin the fusion process. Synaptotagmin are attached to the vesicles and help finish the fusion process.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

A process where neurotransmitters contained in a vesicle are released into the synaptic cleft due to the fusion of the vesicle and the presynaptic membrane. The arrival of the action potential at the axon terminal depolarizes the presynaptic terminal. This depolarization leads to the opening of voltage-gated calcium ion channels to allow Ca 2+ to enter the terminal.  The influx of calcium ions leads to exocytosis.

Exocytosis

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Proteins Involved in Exocytosis

Since exocytosis describes the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles with the help of enzymes during synaptic transmission, it is understandable that the following three things affect the rate of exocytosis: 1.) The rate of production of neurotransmitters, 2.) The rate of production of vesicles, and 3.) The activity of the neuron (i.e., the frequency of action potentials). Normally, the axon terminal contains enough neurotransmitters and vesicles to prepare itself for an action potential. These neurotransmitters and vesicles are produced in the cell body with the help of enzymes and transported to the axon terminal. 

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