About the Project
Photoreceptors are morphologically and physiological highly specialized light sensing cells of the retina where sustained release of glutamate from ribbon synapses is calcium dependent and L-type calcium channels (LTCC) serve as the predominant source for Ca2+ entry. Mutations in the gene encoding Cav1.4 LTCCs were identified among patients diagnosed with congenital night blindness type 2 (OMIM: 30071). The aim of this PhD project is to test the pharmaco-therapeutic potential of retinal Cav1.4 LTCCs using gene therapy.
Methods: Immunohistochemical analyses of mutant and transduced retinas; viral and non-viral gene-therapy applied by retinal injections.
References: Singh et al. (2006) Nature Neuroscience; Burtscher et al. (2014) Biochim Biophys Acta; Pangrsic et al. (2018) Physiol Reviews (Review); Zanetti et al. (2021) Scientific Reports; Nguyen et al. (2022) Appl Mater Interfaces; Heigl et al. (2023) Channels.
We offer an international research environment, state-of-the art immunohistochemical, electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques. The project work will make use of well-established techniques in our lab, including molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, viral vectors, cell culture and transfections.