Super-resolution microscopy - A key tool for dissecting synaptic architecture

The synapse constitutes the fundamental cellular structure enabling chemical communication between nerve cells in the brain. We propose to employ Nobel Prize winning super-resolution microscopy techniques to detailly map the molecular architecture of the presynapse for the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine plays a key role in reward-based learning and is essential for our ability to move. We expect to obtain unprecedented information about the 3D-arrangement of key proteins in the presynapse and its regulation under different physiological conditions. To perform the studies, we will purchase a STORM super-resolution microscope, providing researchers at our faculty with a cutting-edge instrument enabling the study of the dynamic organization of biological structures in unmatched detail.