Summary
My research interests lie in understanding the movement of synaptic vesicles within the presynaptic terminal, currently focused on the energetic needs of presynaptic function, and how these energetic demands change with activity, age, and disease. We apply patch-clamp electrophysiology techniques (voltage clamp, current clamp, and capacitance measurements) to evaluate synaptic function and better understand the kinetics for vesicle depletion, and refilling. In concert with electrophysiology recordings, we use virally-mediated molecular perturbation of endogenous proteins to disrupt mitochondrial localization and function, specifically at the calyx of Held presynaptic terminal, a synapse specialized for high frequency and high fidelity neurotransmission, located in the auditory brainstem. We also use volumetric reconstruction of the terminal using fluorescent confocal microscopy to evaluate the distribution of proteins within in the presynaptic terminal volume.
Education
- B.A., Chemistry, Grinnell College
- Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of Utah