In sensory neurons of the eye and inner ear the neurotransmitter, glutamate, is released at active zones in a graded and continuous manner. In these neurons specialized structures have evolved, known as synaptic ribbons. Synaptic ribbons are osmiophilic proteinaceous structures that tether synaptic vesicles near active zones. Because of their morphology, location within the cells and the cell types where they are found, these organelles are undoubtedly important for the continuous release of glutamate;how ribbons aid in this task, however, remains unclear. The focus of this grant is to study the role of synaptic ribbons in sensory synaptic transmission, with the long term goal to resolve the temporal sequence of events that are involved in the release of neurotransmitter from these important cells.
Specific Aim 1 is to look at how vesicles attach to the ribbon and to plasma membrane at sites away from the synaptic ribbon.
Specific Aim 2 will look at the properties of synaptic release.
Specific Aim 3 explores the plasticity of the synaptic ribbons. Understanding ribbon function may provide clues to help understand diseases that specifically affect vision and hearing. In addition, the fundamental understanding of presynaptic processes in these specialized neurons will have broader implications for neuronal communication in general and thus, may contribute to our understanding of various aspects of mental health and neurological disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Information in the nervous system is transmitted between nerve cells at the synapse, where an electrical impulse in the """"""""presynaptic"""""""" nerve cell causes the release of neurotransmitter from small membrane bound structures, known as synaptic vesicles. In sensory neurons of the eye and inner ear the neurotransmitter, glutamate, is released from synaptic vesicles in a graded and continuous manner and deficiencies in this process may underlie hereditary forms of blindness and deafness. This proposal studies the tonic release of neurotransmitter from one such specialized neuron in the retina.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY014990-08
Application #
7894583
Study Section
Biology and Diseases of the Posterior Eye Study Section (BDPE)
Program Officer
Greenwell, Thomas
Project Start
2003-08-01
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2010-08-01
Budget End
2011-07-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$409,613
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Graffe, Malkolm; Zenisek, David; Taraska, Justin W (2015) A marginal band of microtubules transports and organizes mitochondria in retinal bipolar synaptic terminals. J Gen Physiol 146:109-17
Lv, Caixia; Zenisek, David (2014) Big minis from hair cells: mechanism and function. Neuron 83:1229-31
Mehta, Bhupesh; Ke, Jiang-Bin; Zhang, Lei et al. (2014) Global Ca2+ signaling drives ribbon-independent synaptic transmission at rod bipolar cell synapses. J Neurosci 34:6233-44
Chen, Minghui; Van Hook, Matthew J; Zenisek, David et al. (2013) Properties of ribbon and non-ribbon release from rod photoreceptors revealed by visualizing individual synaptic vesicles. J Neurosci 33:2071-86
Grabner, Chad P; Zenisek, David (2013) Amperometric resolution of a prespike stammer and evoked phases of fast release from retinal bipolar cells. J Neurosci 33:8144-58
Mehta, Bhupesh; Snellman, Josefin; Chen, Shan et al. (2013) Synaptic ribbons influence the size and frequency of miniature-like evoked postsynaptic currents. Neuron 77:516-27
Xu, Hong-ping; Furman, Moran; Mineur, Yann S et al. (2011) An instructive role for patterned spontaneous retinal activity in mouse visual map development. Neuron 70:1115-27
Snellman, Josefin; Mehta, Bhupesh; Babai, Norbert et al. (2011) Acute destruction of the synaptic ribbon reveals a role for the ribbon in vesicle priming. Nat Neurosci 14:1135-41
Francis, Adam A; Mehta, Bhupesh; Zenisek, David (2011) Development of new peptide-based tools for studying synaptic ribbon function. J Neurophysiol 106:1028-37
An, Seong J; Grabner, Chad P; Zenisek, David (2010) Real-time visualization of complexin during single exocytic events. Nat Neurosci 13:577-83

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