Calcium channels in retinal photoreceptors

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Communication at the first visual synapse is mediated by L-type voltage-gated Cav1.4 Ca2+ channels. These channels are concentrated in the synaptic terminal beneath the ribbon, an organelle characteristic of synapses employing tonic neurotransmitter release. Mutation of Cav1.4 alters neurotransmission but can also prevent synaptic development. Such defects can present as a variety of visual diseases, including congenital stationary night blindness or cone-rod dystrophy. In this proposal, we will test the hypothesis that Cav1.4 (Aim 1) and its auxiliary subunits, β2 (Aim 2) and α2δ4 (Aim 3), are each essential in various ways for synaptic development in photoreceptors. This work will be accomplished using a complementary array of electrophysiological, genetic, biochemical, and cell biological approaches. The outcomes of this research should have a broad impact by transforming the concept of how Cav1.4 channels contribute to synapse function and disease-triggered remodeling.