The glycine receptor: subunit stoichiometry and (sub) membrane interactions explored by new two-color fluorescence microscopy with single molecule sensitivity and with superresolution. (R-5264)

Glycine receptors are proteins that are essential to the communication of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Each glycine receptor comprises 5 subunits. As there exist 5 different classes of subunits, different combinations of subunits will lead to different properties of the resulting glycine receptor. For example, part of this project focuses on the a3 subunit, which exists in two forms (a3K and a3L). A change in the expression ratio of the a3K and a3L subunits is associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. How the subunit composition alters the properties of the receptor is not completely clarified yet. To contribute to a better understanding of the structure-function relationship of the glycine receptor, two important issues are addressed in this project. First, the subunit composition of the glycine receptor is determined as there is no scientific agreement on its subunit composition. Secondly, interactions of the glycine receptor composed of solely a3 subunits with its environment are examined and quantified to determine the role of other proteins within the cell with respect to the receptor behavior. To answer both research questions new methodologies based on advanced microscopy techniques that are capable to detect an individual receptor will be applied.

Keywords:Glycine-receptor

Disciplines:Biophysics

Project type:Collaboration project