Molecular physiology of hair cell transmitter release (A02)

• Subject Area: Otolaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology ; Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2011 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 154113120

A02 plans to study Ca2+-regulation of fusion at inner hair cell ribbon synapses. The best candidate for the Ca2+ sensor of exocytosis is otoferlin, a multi-C2-domain protein and deafness gene product, that assumes additional roles in vesicle replenishment. A02 will test the hypothesis that otoferlin acts as Ca2+ sensor for fusion by analyzing the apparent and intrinsic Ca2+-dependence of IHC exocytosis in otoferlin mouse mutants at various levels, from IHC and single synapses to systems function.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 889: Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Tobias Moser