References:
- Sherry DM, Heidelberger R. (2005) Distribution of proteins associated with synaptic vesicle endocytosis in the mouse and goldfish retina. Journal of Comparative Neurology 484:440-457.
- Thoreson WB, Rabl K, Townes-Anderson E, Heidelberger R. (2004) A highly Ca2+-sensitive pool of vesicles contributes to linearity at the rod photoreceptor ribbon synapse. Neuron 42(4):595-605.
- Heidelberger R, Wang MM, Sherry DM. (2003) Differential distribution of synaptotagmin immunoreactivity among synapses in the goldfish, salamander, and mouse retina. Visual Neuroscience 20(1):37-49.
- Heidelberger R, Zhou ZY, Matthews G. (2002) Multiple components of membrane retrieval in synaptic terminals revealed by changes in hydrostatic pressure. Journal of Neurophysiology 88(5):2509-17.
- Heidelberger R, Sterling P, Matthews G. (2002) Roles of ATP in depletion and replenishment of the releasable pool of synaptic vesicles. Journal of Neurophysiology 88(1):98-106.
- Heidelberger R. (2001) ATP is required at an early step in compensatory endocytosis in synaptic terminals. Journal of Neuroscience 21(17):6467-74.
Ruth Heidelberger, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
UTHSC, Medical School, (713) 500 - 5624
Ruth.Heidelberger@uth.tmc.edu
Neurotransmitter release, ion channels, vision
The research in my laboratory is directed at understanding the mechanisms that underlie and regulate neurotransmitter exocytosis. As a model system, we study exocytosis in bipolar neurons isolated from vertebrate retina. These neurons have unusually large presynaptic terminals that allow us to place an electrode directly onto the presynaptic ending to electrically monitor synaptic vesicle fusion and recovery in real-time. As a second model system, we work with neuroendocrine cells of the adrenal medulla. The use of these two model systems allows us to study and compare exocytosis of small, clear-core synaptic vesicles (bipolar cells) with exocytosis of large, dense-core granules (adrenal chromaffin cells). Current studies are directed at understanding the role of ATP in neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle cycling and at identifying presynaptic sites of regulation and modulation of exocytosis. The role of local retinal circuit interactions on neurotransmitter release and the consequences of this modulation on visual processing are also considered.
A tutorial in my laboratory could provide experience in single-cell physiology using patch-clamp recording technique, measurement of membrane capacitance as an assay of synaptic vesicle fusion, fluorescence measurement of intrcellular calcium, flash-photolysis of caged-compounds, and carbon-fiber amperometry.
