Chemical synapses within the brain are specialized cellular junctions that are vastly intergraded to allow for rapid, highly-specific communication between neurons. Fusion of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles with the plasma membrane, subsequent release and activation of postsynaptic receptors executes a phase called exocytosis. To prevent the limited number of synaptic vesicles from rapid depletion, a secondary system of webbed pathways replenishes the vesicle pool through several modes known as endocytosis. Although the exocytic pathway, with its signaling cascade and key proteins are confidently defined, the true nature of vesicle re-formation is less clear. The proposed study will investigate the molecular mechanisms of endocytosis using biophysical and electrochemical methods with milli-second time resolution. We expect that this work will illustrate the functions of several important endocytic proteins in endocytosis.
The results from this work will likely lead to important insights into synaptic vesicle recycling, which is critical for higher functions of our brain, such as learning and memory. These results will shed new light on a signaling cascade that defines the hallmark of inter-cellular communication and aid in identifying aspects of cellular health, thus revealing a deeper understanding of what functional mechanism(s) are involved in the dominant and most fundamental endocytic portal. The investigators will also be dedicated to the training of undergraduate and graduate students in scientific research, through discussion in classes and research in laboratories.
