People / Graduate Students

Vidya Murthy

Nicotinic synapses play several important roles in the CNS as well as the PNS. A number of developmental and neurodegenerative disorders are associated with nicotinic synapse malfunction. However the molecular mechanisms that regulate the formation, maturation and stability of neuronal nicotinic synapses in the CNS are poorly understood. Towards this end I am studying the Olivocochlear nicotinic synapse formation in the cochlea of different transgenic mice that lack the genes encoding the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits. In particular I investigate how these neurotransmitter receptors regulate synapse formation and innervation by regulating gene expression and protein-protein interaction between synaptic adhesion molecules.