Artur Llobet Berenguer
Research Associate of Cell Biology
E-mail: allobet@ub.edu Phone: +3493 4024279 |
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Artur Llobet Berenguer
Research Associate of Cell Biology
E-mail: allobet@ub.edu Phone: +3493 4024279 |
|
The main goal of our lab is focused in the study of the molecular mechanisms regulating secretion of synaptic vesicles and their implication on synaptic plasticity.
Current Projects
We want to gain knowledge the molecular mechanisms governing secretion of large dense core vesicles by combining optical and electrophysiological approaches. Typically, capacitance recordings of chromaffin cells are coupled to Total Internal reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) or Interference Reflection Microscopy (IRM). To interfere with secretion we either dialyse peptides specifically designed to compete with protein-protein interactions or overexpress dominant negative mutants. We are particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms regulating the opening and closing of omega shapes, which are the structures formed by secretory granules when fuse with the plasma membrane to release their contents.
A second line of research is focused in how Schwann cells modulate short-term plasticity of cholinergic autaptic synapses. We have managed to establish microcultures of superior cervical ganglion neurons in the absence of any supporting cell and characterised their short-term plasticity features. Development together with Schwann cells enhances short term depression but facilitation is not affected. Moreover, the presence of Schwann cells also increases the frequency of spontaneous secretion. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes.
Selected Recent Publications
Llobet A, Wu M, Lagnado L.. The mouth of a dense-core vesicle opens and closes in a concerted action regulated by calcium and amphiphysin . Journal of Cell Biology . (2008);182:1017-28.
Perez-Gonzalez AP, Albrecht D, Blasi J, Llobet A. Schwann cells modulate short-term plasticity of cholinergic autaptic synapses . Journal of Physiology . (2008); 586: 4675-4691
