Oliver Schlüter

Biography

Activity-dependent modulations of synaptic transmission are key mechanisms of information processing and storage in neuronal circuits. A variety of related but mechanistically distinct forms of synaptic plasticity have been described in in vitro preparations of brain slices. A major goal of my laboratory is to elucidate the underlying molecular events, leading to and regulating changes in synaptic efficacy. Newly developed techniques of molecular replacement, using mouse genetics and/or viral-mediated gene transfer allow us to manipulate the molecular composition of single neurons in a spatial and temporal controlled manner. In particular, we are able to investigate the effects of heterologously expressed proteins on the background of wild-type neurons, or neurons, in which the endogenous protein expression is diminished. We combine this technique with simultaneous dual whole cell patch clamp recordings from rodent brain slices to monitor changes in synaptic efficacy in the manipulated cell in comparison to the neighboring control cell. Knowledge gained from the understanding of molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity will ultimately provide important clues for the function of neural circuits and potentially the functioning of the brain.

Research Interest

Molecular Neurobiology