Table 1 of Adly, Mol Vis 2026; 32:131-141.

Table 1. Structural and functional differences between traditional and ribbon synapses.

          Feature Traditional synapses Ribbon synapses
Type of release Phasic (brief bursts) Tonic (sustained)
Active zone Single or few Broad with ribbon
Vesicle priming Follows docking May precede docking
Calcium channels N-, P/Q-type L-type (sustained)
Key proteins Synaptotagmin, SNARE RIBEYE, Bassoon, RIM

This table compares key features of traditional versus ribbon synapses, highlighting differences in neurotransmitter release, active zone structure, vesicle handling, calcium channel type, and associated molecular components.

Adly, Mol Vis 2026; 32:131-141. http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v32/131

©2026 Molecular Vision http://www.molvis.org/molvis/

ISSN 1090-0535