Molecular machinery of the inner hair cell synapse (A04)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells ; Otolaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology
• Term: from 2011 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 154113120

Synaptic transmission from auditory inner hair cell to auditory neurons relies on otoferlin. While in the absence of otoferlin fast exocytosis is abolished, indicating a role in vesicle fusion, further studies point towards additional involvement in fast vesicle replenishment, endocytosis, and active zone clearance. In this proposal, we aim to study posttranslational modifications of otoferlin and analyze their physiological significance. Further, we aim to identify novel functional interaction partners of otoferlin as well as hair cell synaptic proteins by mass spectrometric approaches.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 889: Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Ralf Ficner, until 12/2014; Professorin Dr. Ellen Reisinger; Professor Dr. Henning Urlaub, since 1/2015