Ca²⁺-regulated trafficking in photoreceptor synapses

In A7, we will characterize the function of newly discovered proteins at photoreceptor ribbon synapses using transfected retinal slices, mutant mouse models and transgenic reporter mice for exo- and endocytosis as well as high-resolution morphological, imaging, biochemical, pharmacological and behavioral analyses.

Furthermore, we will study Ca²⁺-dependent mechanisms of exo- and endocytosis at the photoreceptor synaptic ribbon complex. From the experiments, we expect novel insights into synaptic signalling at photoreceptor synapses that are also relevant for the understanding of inherited retinal diseases.