Molecular dissection of synaptic integration in awake mice

Molecular mechanisms that configure neuronal responses to synaptic input are critical for coordinated behaviour. The HCN1 ion channel plays important roles in synaptic integration by cerebellar neurons and deletion of the HCN1 channel impairs motor behaviour (Nolan et al., 2003). However, very little is known about how HCN1 channels in specific cell types influence output from the cerebellum. This is essential to establishing a molecular basis for coordination of movement by the cerebellum.

The project will combine patch-clamp recordings from cerebellar neurons in awake animals to examine sensory evoked synaptic responses, with cell type specific deletion of HCN1 channels to specifically manipulate synaptic integration. The experiments will be contribute to understanding of the molecular basis for computation by neural circuits.

First supervisor: Matt Nolan
Second supervisor: Ian Duguid