Vaithianathan Lab

Synapses are communication points of neurons. Synaptic vesicle fusion is a tightly controlled process governed by many factors and triggered by localized calcium levels. Sensory synapses face additional challenges besides the basic requirements, that is to be able to transmit extremely fast, precise, and sustained neurotransmission that is critical for the perception of complex senses such as vision and hearing. The main objective of the research in my laboratory is to understand how retinal bipolar cells, a class of neurons critical to support both fast transient and slow sustained release, are specialized for these tasks. This work studies the components involved in synaptic vesicle trafficking and localized presynaptic calcium signaling in normal conditions and degenerative diseases utilizing state-of-the-art imaging, electrophysiological, electron microscopy, and pharmacological tools in retinal bipolar neurons from transgenic zebrafish and mouse models.