Glutamate receptor field dynamics

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Manfred Heckmann
• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2004 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5439147

Recent data suggest that certain forms of learning and memory are correlated with reformations of postsynaptic receptor fields. Monitoring key molecules of individual fields should enable a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in this form of synaptic plasticity. A suitable preparation for this task, similar in ultrastructure and function to synapses in our brain, is the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Here, field formation can be controlled by specific glutamate receptor subunits and may be influenced by local subunit RNA translation. We hypothesize that subunit accumulation and/or turnover determines whether a field grows, splits or shrinks. To test this hypothesis, we will express GFP-tagged subunits from genomic transgenes. Patch clamp recordings and confocal imaging will be used to study receptor function from the level of single molecules up to the level of individual fields in vivo. In particular we will analyze: (1) the role of subunit composition for synaptic function and structure, (2) the interaction between presynaptic release and receptor field dynamics, and (3) the domains within subunits controlling receptor field dynamics. This will help to clarify the role of postsynaptic receptors in synaptic plasticity and will thus contribute to our understanding of learning and memory.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: Inverses konfokales Laserscanning-Mikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5040 Spezielle Mikroskope (außer 500-503)