Nadine likes to listen to neurons while they speak to each other. She does this by employing electrophysiology to indirectly see their language reflected through current frequency, amplitude and kinetics.
The communication between neurons happens at synapses. Chemical synapses use vesicles, filled with neurotransmitters, that fuse at a specific area, the active zone (AZ), to conduct the signal.
Nadine chose to do her research on Drosophila melanogaster synapses that are equipped with conserved AZ constituents to allow the investigation of molecular mechanisms essential for neuronal communication also across species. By introducing manipulations within AZs, the language between neurons can be abolished or changed such that even small differences in pronunciation of specific words can be achieved. Such alterations in neuronal language properties can be accomplished artificially or occur naturally via plastic processes.
Nadine also wants to know if the amount and arrangement of AZ proteins change when neurons modify their way to speak. Since AZs are small, conventional microscopy methods do not allow precise nanoscopic investigations of their proteinaceous content. Therefore, Nadine is using super-resolution microscopy that allows to circumvent the diffraction barrier, and thereby resolving proteins within the tiny AZ compartment. Since Nadine’s interest is focused on synapses, species-independent, she also collaborates with groups employing different organisms to resolve AZ features.
Nadine started her scientific journey by investigating molecular processes of chemical transmission at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and became fascinated in if, why and how specific synapses, also in one and the same organism, are differently affected by the same synaptic manipulations. Therefore, she is currently comparing her work from the larval NMJ to her recent electrophysiological and structural data obtained within the adult Drosophila antennal lobe. In the end, this will help to better understand the role of developmental stage, synaptic circuitry, neurotransmitter type and cell-specific gene expression in reacting to interventions in synaptic communication on the structural as well as the functional level. Yet, Nadine still employs the Drosophila larval NMJ as an easily accessible and well characterised system to decipher the contribution of specific Calcium channel subunits to different properties of signal transmission at the synapse.
If you are interested in Nadine’s work and want to know more about opportunities to start your own project, please get in touch.
