Cell-type specific mitochondrial Ca2+ handling and selective vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction in different dopaminergic neuron populations (B07)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 269925409

We aim to understand if and how the different, neuron type specific dependence on mitochondrial Ca2+ handling might contribute to the selective vulnerability of certain neuron types to mitochondrial dysfunction. We will a) analyse how mitochondria contribute to controlling free cytosolic Ca2+ in dopaminergic midbrain neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) vs. the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and b) if cell-type specific differences in mitochondrial Ca2+ handling between these two neuron types might contribute to their differential susceptibility to neurodegeneration caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, as seen in ageing and Parkinson¿s disease.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1218: Mitochondrial regulation of cellular function
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Peter Kloppenburg; Professor Dr. Rudolf Wiesner