A sensory cell diversifies its output by varying Ca 2+ influx‐release coupling among active zones

2020 | journal article; research paper. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.

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​A sensory cell diversifies its output by varying Ca 2+ influx‐release coupling among active zones​
Özçete, Ö. D & Moser, T. ​ (2020) 
The EMBO Journal40(5).​ DOI: https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020106010 

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Authors
Özçete, Özge D; Moser, Tobias 
Abstract
Abstract The cochlea encodes sound pressures varying over six orders of magnitude by collective operation of functionally diverse spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). The mechanisms enabling this functional diversity remain elusive. Here, we asked whether the sound intensity information, contained in the receptor potential of the presynaptic inner hair cell (IHC), is fractionated via heterogeneous synapses. We studied the transfer function of individual IHC synapses by combining patch‐clamp recordings with dual‐color Rhod‐FF and iGluSnFR imaging of presynaptic Ca2+ signals and glutamate release. Synapses differed in the voltage dependence of release: Those residing at the IHC' pillar side activated at more hyperpolarized potentials and typically showed tight control of release by few Ca2+ channels. We conclude that heterogeneity of voltage dependence and release site coupling of Ca2+ channels among the synapses varies synaptic transfer within individual IHCs and, thereby, likely contributes to the functional diversity of SGNs. The mechanism reported here might serve sensory cells and neurons more generally to diversify signaling even in close‐by synapses.
Synopsis image By imaging presynaptic Ca2+ influx and glutamate release we show that a single inner hair cell (IHC) employs synapses with different input‐output functions. This way IHC synapses might fractionate sound intensity information.
Analysis of individual synapses reveal that the ability of auditory inner hair cells to translate a wide range of sound intensities is linked to presynaptic heterogeneity in Ca2+ channel‐mediated glutamate release. image
Issue Date
2020
Journal
The EMBO Journal 
Project
EXC 2067: Multiscale Bioimaging 
Working Group
RG Moser (Molecular Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of Sound Encoding) 
ISSN
0261-4189
eISSN
1460-2075
Language
English
Sponsor
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

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