SFB 889:  Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing

Processing of sensory information is the basis of our interaction with the outside world and sensory deficits are a major medical concern and serious burden for public health. CRC 889 takes a multidisciplinary and integrative approach to uncover cellular mechanisms of sensory information processing. Sensory cells and neurons achieve a remarkable performance by employing specialized signaling machineries whose disturbance results in sensory dysfunction. In close collaboration, we study sensory transduction, synaptic transmission, neuronal plasticity, and the function of neuronal networks in sensory systems - from the level of protein complexes to organismal behavior. By combining molecular perturbations, analyses of morphology and function of sensory systems, and mathematical modeling, we aim for a comprehensive understanding of sensory processing and sensory deficits. Using flies, rodents, and non-human primates as model organisms, we compare audition, vision, olfaction, and somatosensation to explore common principles of sensory systems and to decipher specialized mechanisms of sensory processing. Through collaborative research within and beyond CRC 889, we have advanced the understanding of how sensory systems operate and how human sensory deficits arise. Building on the basic science insight we have initiated work towards sensory restoration.

DFG Programme Collaborative Research Centres

International Connection Israel

• A01 - Dissecting Drosophila auditory and gravitational stimulus transduction (Project Head Göpfert, Martin )
• A02 - Molecular physiology of hair cell transmitter release (Project Head Moser, Tobias )
• A03 - Molecular mechanisms of synaptic vesicle docking (Project Heads Jahn, Reinhard ;  Urlaub, Henning )
• A04 - Molecular machinery of the inner hair cell synapse (Project Heads Ficner, Ralf ;  Reisinger, Ellen ;  Urlaub, Henning )
• A05 - The molecular anatomy of synaptic vesicle recycling at the hair cell ribbon synapse (Project Heads Moser, Tobias ;  Rizzoli, Ph.D., Silvio-Olivier )
• A06 - Hearing dysfunction due to pre- and postsynaptic deficits at the hair cell ribbon synapse (Project Head Strenzke, Nicola )
• A07 - Understanding synaptopathy at inner hair cell ribbon synapses on the ultrastructural level (Project Head Wichmann, Carolin )
• A08 - Molecular physiology of synaptic vesicle recycling at the hair cell ribbon synapse (Project Heads Milosevic, Ira ;  Moser, Tobias )
• A09 - Dynamic plasticity of Piezo2 and mechanosensation in the somatosensory system during maturation and aging (Project Head Schmidt, Manuela )
• A10 - Biophysical and molecular mechanisms of mean and variance adaptation in Drosophila auditory receptor neurons (Project Head Clemens, Jan )
• A11 - Structural and functional analysis of the multi-C2-domain protein otoferlin (Project Heads Preobraschenski, Julia ;  Sakata, Ph.D., Eri )
• B01 - Synaptic vesicle priming in murine rod bipolar cell ribbon synapses (Project Heads Brose, Nils ;  Rhee, Jeong Seop )
• B02 - Role of the presynaptic protein Mover at auditory brain stem synapses (Project Head Dresbach, Thomas )
• B03 - Interplay of excitatory silent synapses, inhibitory synapses and synapse pruning in critical period plasticity (Project Head Schlüter, Oliver M. )
• B04 - Neuronal mechanisms of olfactory learning and behaviour in Drosophila: State-dependent structural and functional plasticity of mushroom body circuits (Project Head Fiala, André )
• B05 - The importance of the postsynaptic signaling scaffolds PSD-95 and PSD-93 for vision and visual plasticity (Project Head Löwel, Siegrid )
• B06 - The role of synaptotagmins in olfactory processing (Project Head Dean, Camin )
• B07 - Nanoscopy of visual cortex plasticity (Project Head Willig, Katrin )
• B08 - Illuminating the morphological and functional plasticity of cochlear inner hair cell ribbon synapses (Project Heads Enderlein, Jörg ;  Vogl, Christian )
• B09 - Synaptic mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss (Project Head Pangrsic Vilfan, Tina )
• C01 - Circuit mechanisms underlying signal processing in the mammalian retina during saccades (Project Head Gollisch, Tim )
• C02 - Multimodal signal integration in the Drosophila Brain (Project Heads Fiala, André ;  Göpfert, Martin )
• C03 - Integration of afferent sensory and cortical input by identified neurons of the rodent somatosensory cortex (Project Heads Lampl, Ilan ;  Staiger, Jochen Ferdinand )
• C04 - The pharmacology of attention in fronto-parietal sensory information processing (Project Head Treue, Stefan )
• C05 - Sensory cue integration in the fronto-parietal sensorimotor network (Project Head Gail, Alexander )
• C06 - Optimal state manifolds for a core circuit of the primary visual cortex (Project Head Wolf, Fred )
• C07 - Local and long-range tactile signal integration in defined cell types of primary somatosensory (barrel) cortex (Project Head Staiger, Jochen Ferdinand )
• C08 - The role of glutamatergic inhibition in visual processing (Project Head Silies, Marion )
• C09 - Visual and tactile signal processing for high-order object recognition (Project Head Scherberger, Hansjörg )
• Z - Central Tasks of the Collaborative Research Centre (Project Heads Moser, Tobias ;  Strenzke, Nicola )

Applicant Institution Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Participating University Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Participating Institution Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH (DPZ)
Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung; Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation (MPIDS); Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin (aufgelöst)

Spokespersons Professor Dr. Tobias Moser, until 7/2021; Professorin Dr. Nicola Strenzke, since 7/2021