• Signal transmission in neurons is accomplished by neurotransmitter release from the lumen of synaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft of synapses where they are received by postsynaptic receptors 1 . (nature.com)
  • Axonal speeding: shaping synaptic potentials in small neurons by the axonal membrane compartment. (sppin.fr)
  • Within neurons, multiple pathways are known to transport proteins and transmitters to the cell surface. (sdbonline.org)
  • We study the molecular and biophysical mechanisms underlying and regulating vesicle trafficking in neurons and in particular in their axons and presynaptic nerve terminals. (ki.se)
  • These data suggest that the pathway is enhanced in dying or surviving neurons and might serve a protective role by compensating for decreased neurotransmission and decreasing β-amyloid peptide levels early during the progression of Alzheimer's disease. (eur.nl)
  • Collectively, the present study provides insights into AEG‑1‑dependent gene regulation and signaling pathway transduction in neurons. (spandidos-publications.com)
  • In addition, upregulation of AEG-1 expression can protect nigral dopaminergic neurons from injury caused by aberrant apoptotic signaling pathways ( 13 ). (spandidos-publications.com)
  • Functionally, synaptic vesicle endocytosis allows neurons to sustain synaptic transmission without exhausting the supply of synaptic vesicles. (hhs.gov)
  • Here, we describe a mechanism for dense core vesicle docking in neurons. (rupress.org)
  • In Caenorhabditis elegans motor neurons, dense core vesicles dock at the plasma membrane but are excluded from active zones at synapses. (rupress.org)
  • Neurons can release small molecule neurotransmitters very rapidly in part because synaptic vesicles are docked to the membrane at active zones. (rupress.org)
  • In addition to synaptic vesicles, neurons also contain secretory vesicles, called dense core vesicles, that release neuropeptides and catecholamines ( Burgoyne and Morgan, 2003 ). (rupress.org)
  • How do neurons differentially regulate synaptic vesicle and dense core vesicle release? (rupress.org)
  • Array of glia micro-islands (green) with human IPSC-derived neurons (red) to study synaptic transmission phenotypes in patient-derived neurons (See Meijer et al. (cncr.nl)
  • In addition to synaptic vesicles, neurons contain vesicles that store and release many different types of neuromodulatory cargo (neuropeptides and neurotrophins). (cncr.nl)
  • We use wide-field, 2-photon and TIRFM microscopy in combination with electrophysiology to monitor synapse activity and activity-dependent transport, capture and release of secretory vesicles in rodent and human IPSC-derived neurons in vitro and in vivo. (cncr.nl)
  • Quantitative analysis of dense-core vesicle fusion in rodent CNS neurons. (cncr.nl)
  • CAPS-1 requires its C2, PH, MHD1 and DCV domains for dense core vesicle exocytosis in mammalian CNS neurons. (cncr.nl)
  • Differential Maturation of the Two Regulated Secretory Pathways in Human iPSC-Derived Neurons. (cncr.nl)
  • Here, we show that in dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area isoflurane acts via a sodium channel-independent mechanism to inhibit synaptic vesicle exocytosis in proportion to reduced presynaptic Ca 2+ flux mediated by Ca V 2.1 and/or Ca V 2.2, in contrast to its effects in non-dopaminergic neurons. (eneuro.org)
  • These findings provide a synaptic mechanism for the observed role of reduced dopamine release in anesthetic-induced unconsciousness and implicate presynaptic Ca 2+ channels of dopaminergic neurons as important targets of isoflurane. (eneuro.org)
  • The receptor cells are actually bipolar neurons, each possessing a thin dendritic rod that contains specialized cilia extending from the olfactory vesicle and a long central process that forms the fila olfactoria. (medscape.com)
  • It mediates fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic plasma membrane resulting in exocytosis of neurotransmitters. (nature.com)
  • To achieve this, the neuronal SNARE (i.e., soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complex brings the vesicle and presynaptic membranes in close proximity, thereby, mediating the fusion of the two membranes resulting in exocytosis of neurotransmitters. (nature.com)
  • Actin- and Myosin-Dependent Vesicle Loading of Presynaptic Docking Sites Prior to Exocytosis. (sppin.fr)
  • In the control frog, in the same type of synaptic terminal, the vesicles were divided from the presynaptic membrane by well-defined dense projections, exocytosis profiles were observed only in LSD-treated frogs. (erowid.org)
  • Two important pathways were examined in the current study: (1) a basic pathway of exocytosis that brings new proteins to the cell surface and permits the cell to grow, and (2) synaptic transmission, a specialized form of exocytosis, regulated by Ca 2+ entry, in which vesicles already present at synapses fuse with the membrane and recycle locally (Murthy, 2003). (sdbonline.org)
  • Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and its activator p35 disrupt Munc18a-syntaxin 1 binding, thereby promoting synaptic vesicle fusion during exocytosis. (eur.nl)
  • The volatile anesthetic isoflurane differentially inhibits glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis by reducing presynaptic Ca 2+ influx without affecting the Ca 2+ -exocytosis relationship, but its effects on dopaminergic exocytosis are unclear. (eneuro.org)
  • Isoflurane, a widely used volatile anesthetic, inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels and differentially inhibits synaptic vesicle exocytosis depending on neurotransmitter phenotype. (eneuro.org)
  • Morphofunctional changes at the active zone during synaptic vesicle exocytosis. (mpg.de)
  • These effects are accompanied by imbalances in the activity of specific prenylated proteins, Rab3 and RhoA, involved in neurotransmitter release, and synaptic plasticity, respectively. (nature.com)
  • Proteins synthesized on the ribosome and processed in the endoplasmic reticulum are transported from the Golgi apparatus to the trans-Golgi network (TGN), and from there via small carrier vesicles to their final destination compartment. (wikipedia.org)
  • These vesicles have specific coat proteins (such as clathrin or coatomer) that are important for cargo selection and direction of transport. (wikipedia.org)
  • AP complexes connect cargo proteins and lipids to clathrin at vesicle budding sites, as well as binding accessory proteins that regulate coat assembly and disassembly (such as AP180, epsins and auxilin). (wikipedia.org)
  • Efficient, complete deletion of synaptic proteins using CRISPR. (academictree.org)
  • Endocytosis is the vesicle-mediated process used by all cells to internalize extracellular macromolecules, plasma membrane lipids, and plasma membrane proteins ( Figure 1 ). (wormbook.org)
  • CAPS function in dense core vesicle docking parallels UNC-13 in synaptic vesicle docking, which suggests that these related proteins act similarly to promote docking of independent vesicle populations. (rupress.org)
  • We focus on presynaptic mechanisms by studying the function of key proteins of the synaptic vesicle fusion machinery, their interactors and downstream effectors in wildtype and disease models. (cncr.nl)
  • ATG-9 and synaptic vesicle proteins and their associated centrosomes by dynein-dependent transport. (chemdbsoft.com)
  • Depolarization-induced bursts of miniature synaptic currents in individual synapses of developing cerebellum. (sppin.fr)
  • Differentially poised vesicles underlie fast and slow components of release at single synapses. (sppin.fr)
  • First, Ill discuss recent presynaptic proteomics, where we have uncovered a dynamic signaling pathway that orchestrates synaptic vesicle replenishment across both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. (ist.ac.at)
  • A cell-adhesion molecule fasciclin 2 (FAS2), which is required for synaptic growth and still life (SIF), an activator of RAC, were found to localize in the surrounding region of the active zone, defining the periactive zone in Drosophila neuromuscular synapses. (biologists.com)
  • The axon is responsible for integrating synaptic signals, generating action potentials (APs), propagating those APs to downstream synapses and converting them into patterns of neurotransmitter vesicle release. (frontiersin.org)
  • Gene Dosage in the Dysbindin Schizophrenia Susceptibility Network Differentially Affect Synaptic Function and Plasticity. (tcd.ie)
  • Synaptic plasticity and genetic risk factors are pivotal in decoding the mysteries of neurological disorders. (ist.ac.at)
  • Together these stories will detail new approaches for neural proteomics and novel mechansims that drive the balance of synaptic plasticity and genetic underpinnings in neurological conditions. (ist.ac.at)
  • Strict control of synaptic plasticity is important, as dysregulation of this process is often associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders. (cncr.nl)
  • The main goal of the lab is to advance our understanding of the mechanisms that support synaptic plasticity and their dysfunction in disorders such as Alzheimer's, epilepsy, schizophrenia and autism to provide novel treatment options and therapeutic targets. (cncr.nl)
  • We study the molecular mechanisms that transport and recruit these vesicles to the plasma membrane, their calcium dependent fusion and the effect of secreted cargo on synaptic plasticity. (cncr.nl)
  • For example, the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway controls cell proliferation and differentiation at the embryonic stage [ 6 - 8 ] and regulates synaptic formation required for neural plasticity at the adult stage [ 9 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • We then examine how these mechanisms could modulate synaptic function by focusing on three key features of synaptic information transmission: synaptic strength, synaptic variability, and short-term plasticity. (frontiersin.org)
  • Fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane occurs in the presence of the NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor) / α-SNAP (α-soluble NSF attachment protein) disassembly machinery. (nature.com)
  • In LSD-treated frogs the vesicles were often aligned in rows which seemed to follow a preferential pathway towards the presynaptic membrane, onto which they closely adhered. (erowid.org)
  • In some cases, the exocytotic vesicles derive from the Golgi apparatus and consist of newly synthesized materials, while in others the vesicles derive from the plasma membrane and cycle locally. (sdbonline.org)
  • Actin dynamics provides membrane tension to merge fusing vesicles into the plasma membrane. (ki.se)
  • There are several endocytic pathways that utilize different mechanisms to internalize portions of the plasma membrane. (wormbook.org)
  • Others are recycled back to the plasma membrane via the recycling pathway. (wormbook.org)
  • Clathrin and cargo molecules are assembled into clathrin-coated pits on the plasma membrane together with an adaptor complex called AP-2 that links clathrin with transmembrane receptors, concluding in the formation of mature clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). (wormbook.org)
  • Docking to the plasma membrane prepares vesicles for rapid release. (rupress.org)
  • Dense core vesicles are usually found in the cytoplasm and these cytoplasmic vesicles must presumably translocate to the plasma membrane before release ( Zupanc, 1996 ). (rupress.org)
  • Furthermore the identification of the interaction between Rab26 and Atg16L1 made it possible to connect recycled synaptic vesicles with the autophagy pathway. (uni-goettingen.de)
  • The GTPase Rab26 links synaptic vesicles to the autophagy pathway. (mpg.de)
  • In situ snapshots along a mammalian selective autophagy pathway. (mpg.de)
  • Work from several laboratories including my own has found that the curvature-sensing protein endophilin plays a critical role in synaptic vesicle endocytosis. (hhs.gov)
  • Munc13-and SNAP25-dependent molecular bridges play a key role in synaptic vesicle priming. (mpg.de)
  • The CaMKII/NMDA receptor complex controls hippocampal synaptic transmission by kinase-dependent and independent mechanisms. (academictree.org)
  • Our current interest is in the molecular mechanisms, which link the synaptic vesicle cycle with the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and primerily under conditions that lead to α-synuclein-related pathologies observed in Parkinson's disease, as well as in several diseases referred to as synucleinopathies. (ki.se)
  • We are aiming at characterizing the signaling mechanisms that regulate the liquid-liquid phase transitions in the synaptic vesicle cycle, mitochondrial functions, and degradation pathways at nerve terminals to clarify how do they become affected at the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases and which molecular steps lead to protein aggregate formation. (ki.se)
  • Synaptotagmin-1- and Synaptotagmin-7-Dependent Fusion Mechanisms Target Synaptic Vesicles to Kinetically Distinct Endocytic Pathways. (ucsf.edu)
  • Both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms contribute to changes in synaptic strength. (cncr.nl)
  • Here, we review cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in axonal ion channel modulation and examine how changes to ion channel function affect AP initiation, AP propagation, and the release of neurotransmitter. (frontiersin.org)
  • However it is still unclear whether the presynaptic protein turnover is regulated by the same pathway. (uni-goettingen.de)
  • I could demonstrate that Rab26 is a neuronal small GTPase Rab protein which is associated with a subset of synaptic vesicles. (uni-goettingen.de)
  • This is an adaptor protein which helps the formation of a clathrin coat around a vesicle. (wikipedia.org)
  • AP (adaptor protein) complexes are found in coated vesicles and clathrin-coated pits. (wikipedia.org)
  • RNAi screen identifies a role for adaptor protein AP-3 in sorting to the regulated secretory pathway. (academictree.org)
  • Another distinction that has been drawn contrasts the constitutive and the regulated pathways to distinguish the ongoing transport of protein and lipid to the cell surface from the ability to secrete hormones and transmitters in response to specific stimuli. (sdbonline.org)
  • An Endocytic Scaffolding Protein together with Synapsin Regulates Synaptic Vesicle Clustering in the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction. (ki.se)
  • We investigated protein levels of the signaling pathway: p35, cyclin-dependent kinase 5, Munc18a, syntaxin 1A and 1B, Munc18-interacting protein 1 and Munc18-interacting protein 2 in Alzheimer's disease cortex and found that this pathway was up-regulated in the Alzheimer's disease parietal and occipital cortex. (eur.nl)
  • 2) We will study how curvature signals are received by the downstream protein synaptojanin to support synaptic vesicle endocytosis, and to prevent age-dependent decay of synaptic transmission. (hhs.gov)
  • Through an unbiased genetic screen, we have identified another curvature-sensing protein that acts in a parallel pathway with endophilin. (hhs.gov)
  • We have found that the calcium-activated protein for secretion (CAPS) protein is required for dense core vesicle docking but not synaptic vesicle docking. (rupress.org)
  • Both the CAPS and UNC-13 docking pathways converge on syntaxin, a component of the SNARE (soluble N -ethyl-maleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment receptor) complex. (rupress.org)
  • Presynaptic Ca V 2.2 (N-type) calcium channels are subject to modulation by interaction with syntaxin 1 and by a syntaxin 1-sensitive Gα O G-protein pathway. (jneurosci.org)
  • Previous reports have demonstrated that this channel type can be inhibited via two pathways that involve syntaxin 1 and G-protein. (jneurosci.org)
  • Adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles increase insulin secretion through transport of insulinotropic protein cargo. (mpg.de)
  • The success of proteomics experiments, such as studies of protein function and cell signaling pathways, ultimately de- pends on how well the protein content in samples is identified and annotated. (lu.se)
  • This review summarizes recent work elucidating endocytic pathways, primarily in the worm germ line and coelomocytes, and also touches on diverse studies of secretion, especially in ectodermal cells of epithelial character. (wormbook.org)
  • Dynamin controls neuropeptide secretion by organizing dense-core vesicle fusion sites. (cncr.nl)
  • The results highlight a different functional impairment, with VV2 associated with higher impairment of the pathways related to dopamine secretion, regulation of calcium release and GABA signaling, showing some similarities with Parkinson's disease both on a genomic and a transcriptomic level. (biomedcentral.com)
  • SNAP-25 gene family members differentially support secretory vesicle fusion. (cncr.nl)
  • In addition we could offer an alternative mode of synaptic vesicle endocytosis that bypasses the Rab5-dependent pathway and converges with the late endosome/autolysosome pathway. (uni-goettingen.de)
  • Clathrin-mediated endocytosis cooperates with bulk endocytosis to generate vesicles. (ki.se)
  • As a result, defective synaptic vesicle endocytosis creates deficits in neurotransmission that underlie a wide spectrum of neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders. (hhs.gov)
  • We focus on the curvature-sensing amphipathic helix of endophilin as it is essential for synaptic vesicle endocytosis. (hhs.gov)
  • αSyn functions in neurotransmitter release via binding to and clustering synaptic vesicles and chaperoning of SNARE-complex assembly. (biorxiv.org)
  • The large GTPase dynamin is then involved in pinching off the coated pit to form a clathrin-coated vesicle. (wormbook.org)
  • VAMP4 directs synaptic vesicles to a pool that selectively maintains asynchronous neurotransmission. (ucsf.edu)
  • Volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane modulate synaptic and extrasynaptic neurotransmission through multiple postsynaptic targets, primarily by potentiating inhibitory GABA A receptors and depressing excitatory glutamatergic transmission via ionotropic glutamate receptors ( Rudolph and Antkowiak, 2004 ). (eneuro.org)
  • Thus, CAPS likely promotes the open state of syntaxin, which then docks dense core vesicles. (rupress.org)
  • One possible explanation for the bashfulness of dense core vesicles is that they are not docked. (rupress.org)
  • When released in the synaptic cleft, ACh binds to two distinct types of receptors: Ionotropic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) and metabotropic muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). (genome.jp)
  • Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind briefly to specific receptors on the adjoining neuron or effector cell. (msdmanuals.com)
  • Among the three families of Ca V channels (Ca V 1, Ca V 2 and Ca V 3), the Ca V 2 family and more specifically Ca V 2.1 and Ca V 2.2 channels (generating P/Q and N-type currents, respectively) are particularly important for synaptic transmission in central and peripheral nervous systems ( Dolphin, 2012 ). (elifesciences.org)
  • Presynaptic calcium stores and synaptic transmission. (sppin.fr)
  • Our functional analysis revealed that the molecular signature of En2 -/- cerebellum and hippocampus shares convergent pathological pathways with ASD, including abnormal synaptic transmission, altered developmental processes and increased immune response. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Choudhury SD, Mushtaq Z, Reddy-Alla S, Balakrishnan SS, Thakur RS, Krishnan KS, Raghu P, Ramaswami M, Kumar V. σ2-Adaptin Facilitates Basal Synaptic Transmission and Is Required for Regenerating Endo-Exo Cycling Pool Under High-Frequency Nerve Stimulation in Drosophila. (tcd.ie)
  • Our data indicate that the proteolytic maturation increases the association of α 2 δ−1 with Ca V channel complex and is essential for its function on synaptic release. (elifesciences.org)
  • Here, we investigate the impact of the proteolytic maturation of α 2 δ−1 on synaptic release. (elifesciences.org)
  • Early to late endosome transport may be mediated by small vesicular intermediates, or may be a maturation process whereby early endosomes lose components through recycling pathways and gain components through fusion with vesicles derived from the secretory pathway. (wormbook.org)
  • Our data suggest that all three synucleins affect synapse function, but only αSyn mediates the downstream function of vesicle clustering and SNARE-complex assembly, while βSyn and γSyn modulate the activity of αSyn through regulating its binding to synaptic vesicles. (biorxiv.org)
  • Vesicle Clustering in a Living Synapse Depends on a Synapsin Region that Mediates Phase Separation. (ki.se)
  • The real implication of its presence on the synaptic vesicle membranes though has not been investigated so far. (uni-goettingen.de)
  • The 3 frogs were treated by the ethanol phoaphotungatic acid (EPTA) method for the selective staining of the synaptic membranes after being fixed in OaO4 so that the synaptic v-aiclea were also shown. (erowid.org)
  • this included the TNF‑α pathway, the NF‑κB pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, the Notch signaling pathway and Axon guidance. (spandidos-publications.com)
  • These modulatory events dramatically affect how synaptic information is integrated to generate patters of action potentials (APs) as well as how those APs are transformed into transmitter release at axon terminals ( Figure 1A ). (frontiersin.org)
  • The non-specific lethal complex regulates genes and pathways genetically linked to Parkinson's disease. (medscape.com)
  • Consequently, inhibition of this pathway by a selective Rho kinase inhibitor like Y 27632 improved ED in aging and diabetic rodents. (pkainhibitors.com)
  • Human Pathway Affiliation of target is determined by the life-essential pathways provided on KEGG database. (idrblab.net)
  • At this location, synaptic currents are converted from a graded voltage signal into a train of APs. (frontiersin.org)
  • In terms of gene expression, microarray and RNA sequencing have been applied to determine the most affected biological processes and molecular pathways at various disease stages. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Montal 2010), acidification, a normal step in synaptic vesicle recycling, is inferred to cause a conformational change in the botulinum toxin type G disulfide-bonded heavy chain - light chain dimer (BoNT/G HC:LC) it contains, allowing the HC part of the toxin to function as a channel through which its LC part is extruded into the neuronal cytosol. (reactome.org)
  • Neuromodulatory regulation of ion channels affects how ion channels respond to voltage deflections on short and long time scales, thus affecting how certain features of synaptic input are transformed into neuronal output. (frontiersin.org)
  • This led us to conclude that Rab26 might be an important key regulator of synaptic vesicle quality control. (uni-goettingen.de)
  • It was previously shown in our laboratory that the small GTPase Rab26 is highly enriched in the synaptic vesicle fraction (Nathan Pavlos, unpublished data). (uni-goettingen.de)
  • We wanted to find out in which pathway Rab26 is implicated and if it contributes in regulating the synaptic vesicle (SV) cycle. (uni-goettingen.de)
  • Transcriptome analysis has been used in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to unravel common pathogenic pathways based on the assumption that distinct rare genetic variants or epigenetic modifications affect common biological pathways. (biomedcentral.com)
  • The mechanistic basis for these distinct pathways remains obscure. (sdbonline.org)
  • 2003. Synaptic vesicle mobilization is regulated by distinct synapsin I phosphorylation pathways at different frequencies. . (cornell.edu)
  • The olfactory bulb is a highly organized structure composed of several distinct layers and synaptic specializations. (medscape.com)
  • These experiments, combined with electrophysiological and biochemical studies, suggest that synaptotagmin is a key Ca2+ sensor, converting the ubiquitously used cellular secretory pathway into a Ca(2+)-regulated exocytotic pathway. (nih.gov)
  • Vesicle Shrinking and Enlargement Play Opposing Roles in the Release of Exocytotic Contents. (ki.se)
  • Topalidou I, Cattin-Ortolá J, Hummer B , Asensio CS , Ailion M. EIPR1 controls dense-core vesicle cargo retention and EARP complex localization in insulin-secreting cells. (academictree.org)
  • HID-1 controls large dense core vesicle formation by influencing cargo sorting and TGN acidification. (academictree.org)
  • While the general sequence of SNARE complex formation is well-established, our knowledge on possible intermediates and stable off-pathway complexes is incomplete. (nature.com)
  • In summary, we unravel the stoichiometry of intermediates and off-pathway complexes and compile a road map of SNARE complex assembly including regulation by Complexin-1. (nature.com)
  • Clathrin coats contain both clathrin (acts as a scaffold) and adaptor complexes that link clathrin to receptors in coated vesicles. (wikipedia.org)
  • Computational methods for ultrastructural analysis of synaptic complexes. (mpg.de)
  • Overexpression of open syntaxin can bypass the requirement for CAPS in dense core vesicle docking. (rupress.org)
  • We noted that botulinum-mediated cleavage of syntaxin essentially eliminated the inhibition of presynaptic Ca channels via the Gα O -gated pathway ( Stanley and Mirotznik, 1997 ). (jneurosci.org)
  • Influence of spatially segregated IP-producing pathways on spike generation and transmitter release in Purkinje cell axons. (sppin.fr)
  • Activation occurs when odiferous molecules come in contact with specialized processes known as the olfactory vesicles. (medscape.com)
  • These specialized epithelial cells give rise to the olfactory vesicles containing kinocilia, which serve as sites of stimulus transduction. (medscape.com)
  • Synaptic Vesicle-Recycling Machinery Components as Potential Therapeutic Targets. (ucsf.edu)
  • Targets involved in a fewer pathways have greater likelihood to be successfully developed, while those associated with more human pathways increase the chance of undesirable interferences with other human processes ( Pharmacol Rev, 58: 259-279, 2006 ). (idrblab.net)
  • The isoprenoid/cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, also known as the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, is one of the most notorious metabolic processes as it leads to the production of cholesterol and other non-sterol isoprenoids, which are essential in the induction and the maintenance of several cellular processes. (nature.com)
  • Intracellular signal transduction pathways play an essential role in regulating diverse cellular functions. (biomedcentral.com)