Understanding synaptopathy at inner hair cell ribbon synapses on the ultrastructural level
(A07)
Subject Area
Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
Term
from 2012 to 2022
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 154113120
Defects in auditory synaptic transmission cause hearing impairment, and a degeneration of ribbon synapses takes place during age-related hearing loss. Understanding different phases of exocytosis at inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses and determining structural changes at IHC active zones that precede the loss of ribbons and postsynaptic spiral ganglion neurons during age-related ribbon degeneration are the two aims of this study. We will combine optogenetics with high-pressure freezing and electron tomography on different mutants of presynaptic proteins and will perform large volume 3D-ultrastructural reconstructions of IHCs in distinct stages of aging together with electron-tomography.
DFG Programme
Collaborative Research Centres
