Henrike Ohm

Neuronal signal transduction depends on the propagation of action potentials. Therefore, the distribution of voltage gated ion channels along the axons is crucial.
In vertebrate axons the ion channels are clustered at the axon initial segment (AIS) and the nodes of Ranvier with the help of myelinating glial cells. In invertebrates, no myelination occurs and the precise distribution of the channels along the axons is not known. Previous work in the lab showed that the loss of peripheral wrapping glial cells reduces the nerve conduction velocity. Therefore, I want to analyze the distribution pattern of voltage gated ion channels in Drosophila and the role of glial cells in it.

Approved Pilot Project 2019:

A technique to visualize specific cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans in vivo in Drosophila melanogaster