The Billups Group - Synaptic Mechanisms

The Synaptic Mechanisms Laboratory investigates how individual synapses in the central nervous system function and how they are modulated.

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Associate Professor Brian Billups

About

The Synaptic Mechanisms Laboratory investigates how individual synapses in the central nervous system function and how they are modulated. These processes ultimately control how information is carried through the brain. We use electrophysiological recording techniques, such as patch-clamping, combined with fluorescent cellular imaging techniques to probe the function of distinct synapses in neuronal circuits.

Synaptic junctions between two neurons are closely associated with processes from neighbouring astrocytes. These glial cells are integral parts the tripartite synapse structure, sensing the activity in the adjacent neurons and releasing compounds that influence the neuronal communication. Our laboratory is particularly interested in how presynaptic terminals release neurotransmitters and how astrocytes regulate this activity.

Many of our studies use the calyx of Held synapse in the auditory brainstem. This synapse is part of the neuronal pathways that integrate sound from the two ears and is involved in the mechanisms that the brain uses to determine the location of a sound. It is a large excitatory (glutamatergic) synapse, with presynaptic, postsynaptic and astrocytic elements that can be easily visually identified and recorded in living tissue. This gives a unique opportunity to study how the different elements of the tripartite synapse contribute to the regulation of neuronal communication.

Publications

Projects

This project will examine the function of the variety of amino acid transporters found in neuronal tissue.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

Status

Potential

People

The aim of this project is to understand the ways in which astrocytes can sense the activity at adjacent synapses and how in-turn they can release substances that modulate these synapses.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

Status

Potential

People

The aim of this project is to identify glutamate recycling mechanisms and to discover their role in maintaining the supply of glutamate for continued neurotransmission.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

Status

Potential

People

Members

Leader

Associate Director, Education, JCSMR
JCSMR

Researcher

Angela Nicoli

Postdoctoral Fellow

Student

News

In a Science Week special, PhD candidates answer the question “what is your favourite part of the scientific process?”

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