PROJECT DESCRIPTION Masters Thesis Department of Biomedicine

Project title

Ion channels in action: signal processing in synaptic microcircuits and
small neuronal networks
Study track

Human Physiology, Medical Cell Biology, Pharmacy
Name of supervisor
Position/employer
Duration of employment
E-mail
Meg Veruki, PhD
Associate Professor, Neuroscience Research Group
Permanent
margaret.veruki@biomed.uib.no
Name of co-supervisor
Position/employer
Duration of employment
E-mail
Espen Hartveit, MD, PhD
Professor, Neuroscience Research Group
Permanent
espen.hartveit@biomed.uib.no
Number of students 2 3
Project description
Project goal
The goal of these MSc projects is for the student to understand and apply
the versatile and powerful technique of patch-clamp recording by
investigating the action of specific ion channels in identified neurons. This
technique is used in modern cell biology and physiology laboratories
throughout the world as well as the pharmaceutical and other industries
related to cell biology.
The student will chose from one of the topics listed below after discussion
with the above supervisors.
Project background
The focus of the lab is to study the basic mechanisms of synaptic
transmission between nerve cells in the central nervous system. Our
approach is multidisciplinary and combines electrophysiological recording,
imaging, pharmacology, computer modeling and 3D morphological
reconstruction of neurons to investigate the activity and function of ion
channels and other cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitatory and
inhibitory synaptic transmission.
Topics

1. Functional properties and modulation of GABA, glycine or glutamate
receptors in identified neurons in the mammalian retina.
2. Modulation of electrically-coupled neuronal networks.
3. Changes in retinal glutamate receptor function in diabetes.
4. Investigation of the role of voltage-gated Na
+
channels in amacrine
cells.

Methods
The primary technique to be mastered by the student is that of patch-
clamp recording from intact neurons in brain slices. With its different
configurations, patch-clamp recording can control and measure the activity
of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, metabotropic receptors,
electrical synapses and even transporter currents with high precision and
resolution. Most commonly, whole-cell and nucleated patch recordings will
be performed. Both voltage-clamp, current-clamp and dynamic clamp are
regularly used in the lab and can be combined with multi-photon imaging
and 3D morphological reconstruction of neurons.