Transmission Mechanisms at the Photoreceptor Synapse

The light signal is converted by photoreceptors into the biological signal of variable glutamate release at the photoreceptor synapse. This signal is separated into two channels, the ON- and OFF pathway, at this baroquely formed ribbon synapse. We are interested how the ON pathway interprets glutamate as an inhibitory signal and the contribution of metabotropic glutamate receptors and glutamate transporters to synaptic transmission.

People involved:
Dr. Ying-Yu Huang
Marion Haug
Colette Maurer
Simon Früh

Selected publications:
Bahadori, R, Biehlmaier, O, Zeitz, C, Labhart, L, Makhankov, YV, Forster, U, Gesemann, M, Berger, W, Neuhauss, SCF (2006). Nyctalopin is essential for synaptic transmission in the cone dominated zebrafish retina. European Journal of Neuroscience 24: 1664-1674