The question how synaptic specificity is achieved is directly coupled with the understanding how a neuron knows where to grow and where to implement its connections. We aim to elucidate those two questions in hippocampal circuits. By combining advanced neuronal labeling techniques with transgenic mouse strains we can specifically prepare and identify synapses of interest. Studying the content of those synapses at different developmental stages with different omic techniques will allow us to characterize crucial factors for the implementation of neuronal connections and synaptic plasticity.
Methods applied in this project are: Neuronal labeling with rAAV viruses, transgenic mouse lines, synaptosome preparation (differential density gradient centrifugation), fluorescent based cell (synaptosome) sorting, Western blotting, RNASeq, mass spectrometry (shot-gun sequencing).
Quattrocolo Lab 