Amini, M., Frisch, J., Jost, P., Sarakpi, T., Selejan, S., Becker, E., Sellier, A., Engel, J., Böhm, M., Hohl, M., Noels, H., Maack, C., Schunk, S., Roma, L.P., Niemeyer, B.A., Speer, T., Alansary, D.
"Purinergic receptor P2X7 regulates interleukin-1α mediated inflammation in chronic kidney disease in a reactive oxygen species-dependent manner"
Kidney Int, , (2024), DOI:10.1016/j.kint.2024.10.024, Pubmed-ID: 39571908.

Blum, K., Schepsky, P., Derleder, P., Schätzle, P., Nasri, F., Fischer, P., Engel, J., Kurt, S.
"Noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy in C57BL/6 N mice as a function of trauma strength: ribbons are more vulnerable than postsynapses"
Front Cell Neurosci, 18, 1465216-XXXXXXX, (2024), DOI:10.3389/fncel.2024.1465216, Pubmed-ID: 39411002.

Wadle, S. L. , Schmitt, T.T.X., Engel, J., Kurt, S., Hirtz, J.J.
"Altered population activity and local tuning heterogeneity in auditory cortex of Cacna2d3-deficient mice"
Biol Chem, 404, 607-617, (2023), DOI:10.1515/hsz-2022-0269, Pubmed-ID: 36342370.

Bracic, G., Hegmann, K., Engel, J., Kurt, S.
"Impaired Subcortical Processing of Amplitude-Modulated Tones in Mice Deficient for Cacna2d3, a Risk Gene for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Humans"
eNeuro, 9, ENEURO.0118-22.2022, (2022), DOI:10.1523/ENEURO.0118-22.2022, Pubmed-ID: 35410870.

Marchetta, P., Möhrle, D., Eckert, P., Reimann, K., Wolter, S., Tolone, A., Lang, I., Wolters, M., Feil, R., Engel, J., Paquet-Durand, F., Kuhn, M., Knipper, M., Rüttiger, L.
"Guanylyl Cyclase A/cGMP Signaling Slows Hidden, Age- and Acoustic Trauma-Induced Hearing Loss"
Front Aging Neurosci, 12, 83-XX, (2020), DOI:10.3389/fnagi.2020.00083, Pubmed-ID: 32327991.

Schade-Mann, T., Münkner, S., Eckrich, T., Engel, J.
"Calcium signaling in interdental cells during the critical developmental period of the mouse cochlea"
Hear Res, 389, 107913-XXXXXX, (2020), DOI:10.1016/j.heares.2020.107913, Pubmed-ID: 32120242.

Ortner, N. J. , Pinggera, A., Hofer, N.T., Siller, A., Brandt, N., Raffeiner, A., Vilusic, K., Lang, I., Blum, K., Obermair, G.J., Stefan, E., Engel, J., Striessnig, J.
"RBP2 stabilizes slow Cav1.3 Ca²⁺ channel inactivation properties of cochlear inner hair cells"
Pflugers Arch, 472, 3-25, (2020), DOI:10.1007/s00424-019-02338-4, Pubmed-ID: 31848688.

Beggs, M. R. , Lee, J.J., Busch, K., Raza, A., Dimke, H., Weissgerber, P., Engel, J., Flockerzi, V., Alexander, R.T.
"TRPV6 and Ca_v1.3 Mediate Distal Small Intestine Calcium Absorption Before Weaning"
Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 8, 625-642, (2019), DOI:10.1016/j.jcmgh.2019.07.005, Pubmed-ID: 31398491.

Lang, I., Jung, M., Niemeyer, B.A., Ruth, P., Engel, J.
"Expression of the LRRC52 γ subunit (γ2) may provide Ca²⁺-independent activation of BK currents in mouse inner hair cells"
FASEB J, 33, 11721-11734, (2019), DOI:10.1096/fj.201900701RR, Pubmed-ID: 31348683.

Stephani, F., Scheuer, V., Eckrich, T., Blum, K., Wang, W., Obermair, G.J., Engel, J.
"Deletion of the Ca²⁺ Channel Subunit α₂δ3 Differentially Affects Ca_v2.1 and Ca_v2.2 Currents in Cultured Spiral Ganglion Neurons Before and After the Onset of Hearing"
Front Cell Neurosci, 13, 278-XXX, (2019), DOI:10.3389/fncel.2019.00278, Pubmed-ID: 31293392.

Eckrich, S., Hecker, D., Sorg, K., Blum, K., Fischer, K., Münkner, S., Wenzel, G., Schick, B., Engel, J.
"Cochlea-Specific Deletion of Ca_v1.3 Calcium Channels Arrests Inner Hair Cell Differentiation and Unravels Pitfalls of Conditional Mouse Models"
Front Cell Neurosci, 13, 225-XXX, (2019), DOI:10.3389/fncel.2019.00225, Pubmed-ID: 31178698.

Ceriani, F., Hendry, A., Jeng, J., Johnson, S.L., Stephani, F., Olt, J., Holley, M.C., Mammano, F., Engel, J., Kros, C.J., Simmons, D.D., Marcotti, W.
"Coordinated calcium signalling in cochlear sensory and non-sensory cells refines afferent innervation of outer hair cells"
EMBO J, 38, e99839, (2019), DOI:10.15252/embj.201899839, Pubmed-ID: 30804003.

Sonntag, M., Blosa, M., Schmidt, S., Reimann, K., Blum, K., Eckrich, T., Seeger, G., Hecker, D., Schick, B., Arendt, T., Engel, J., Morawski, M.
"Synaptic coupling of inner ear sensory cells is controlled by brevican-based extracellular matrix baskets resembling perineuronal nets"
BMC Biol, 16, 99-XX, (2018), DOI:10.1186/s12915-018-0566-8, Pubmed-ID: 30253762.

Eckrich, T., Blum, K., Milenkovic, I., Engel, J.
"Fast Ca²⁺ Transients of Inner Hair Cells Arise Coupled and Uncoupled to Ca²⁺ Waves of Inner Supporting Cells in the Developing Mouse Cochlea"
Front Mol Neurosci, 11, 264-XXX, (2018), DOI:10.3389/fnmol.2018.00264, Pubmed-ID: 30104958.

Fell, B., Eckrich, S., Blum, K., Eckrich, T., Hecker, D., Obermair, G.J., Münkner, S., Flockerzi, V., Schick, B., Engel, J.
"α2δ2 Controls the Function and Trans-Synaptic Coupling of Cav1.3 Channels in Mouse Inner Hair Cells and Is Essential for Normal Hearing"
J Neurosci, 36, 11024-11036, (2016), DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3468-14.2016, Pubmed-ID: 27798183.

Scharinger, A., Eckrich, S., Vandael, D.H., Schönig, K., Koschak, A., Hecker, D., Kaur, G., Lee, A., Sah, A., Bartsch, D., Benedetti, B., Lieb, A., Schick, B., Singewald, N., Sinnegger-Brauns, M.J., Carbone, E., Engel, J., Striessnig, J.
"Cell-type-specific tuning of Cav1.3 Ca(2+)-channels by a C-terminal automodulatory domain"
Front Cell Neurosci, 9, 309-XXX, (2015), DOI:10.3389/fncel.2015.00309, Pubmed-ID: 26379493.

Pirone, A., Kurt, S., Zuccotti, A., Rüttiger, L., Pilz, P., Brown, D.H., Franz, C., Schweizer, M., Rust, M.B., Rübsamen, R., Friauf, E., Knipper, M., Engel, J.
"α2δ3 is essential for normal structure and function of auditory nerve synapses and is a novel candidate for auditory processing disorders"
J Neurosci, 34, 434-445, (2014), DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3085-13.2014, Pubmed-ID: 24403143.

Nothwang, H., Engel, J., Knipper, M., Friauf, E.
"L-type calcium channels in the auditory system"
e-Neuroforum, 5, 60-66, (2014), DOI:10.1007/s13295-014-0059-3.

Dettling, J., Franz, C., Zimmermann, U., Lee, S.C., Bress, A., Brandt, N., Feil, R., Pfister, M., Engel, J., Flamant, F., Rüttiger, L., Knipper, M.
"Autonomous functions of murine thyroid hormone receptor TRα and TRβ in cochlear hair cells"
Mol Cell Endocrinol, 382, 26-37, (2014), DOI:10.1016/j.mce.2013.08.025, Pubmed-ID: 24012852.

Duncker, S. V. , Franz, C., Kuhn, S., Schulte, U., Campanelli, D., Brandt, N., Hirt, B., Fakler, B., Blin, N., Ruth, P., Engel, J., Marcotti, W., Zimmermann, U., Knipper, M.
"Otoferlin couples to clathrin-mediated endocytosis in mature cochlear inner hair cells"
J Neurosci, 33, 9508-9519, (2013), DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5689-12.2013, Pubmed-ID: 23719817.

Kurt, S., Sausbier, M., Rüttiger, L., Brandt, N., Moeller, C.K., Kindler, J., Sausbier, U., Zimmermann, U., van Straaten, H., Neuhuber, W., Engel, J., Knipper, M., Ruth, P., Schulze, H.
"Critical role for cochlear hair cell BK channels for coding the temporal structure and dynamic range of auditory information for central auditory processing"
FASEB J, 26, 3834-3843, (2012), DOI:10.1096/fj.11-200535, Pubmed-ID: 22691916.

Jaumann, M., Dettling, J., Gubelt, M., Zimmermann, U., Gerling, A., Paquet-Durand, F., Feil, S., Wolpert, S., Franz, C., Varakina, K., Xiong, H., Brandt, N., Kuhn, S., Geisler, H., Rohbock, K., Ruth, P., Schlossmann, J., Hütter, J., Sandner, P., Feil, R., Engel, J., Knipper, M., Rüttiger, L.
"cGMP-Prkg1 signaling and Pde5 inhibition shelter cochlear hair cells and hearing function"
Nat Med, 18, 252-259, (2012), DOI:10.1038/nm.2634, Pubmed-ID: 22270721.

Buerbank, S., Becker, K., Becker, C., Brandt, N., Engel, J., Knipper, M., Schick, B., Dlugaiczyk, J.
"Developmental regulation of glycine receptors at efferent synapses of the murine cochlea"
Histochem Cell Biol, 136, 387-398, (2011), DOI:10.1007/s00418-011-0855-6, Pubmed-ID: 21850450.

El Ouardi, A., Streckert, J., Bitz, A., Münkner, S., Engel, J., Hansen, V.
"New fin-line devices for radiofrequency exposure of small biological samples in vitro allowing whole-cell patch clamp recordings"
Bioelectromagnetics, 32, 102-112, (2011), DOI:10.1002/bem.20621, Pubmed-ID: 21225887.

Baig, S. M. , Koschak, A., Lieb, A., Gebhart, M., Dafinger, C., Nürnberg, G., Ali, A., Ahmad, I., Sinnegger-Brauns, M.J., Brandt, N., Engel, J., Mangoni, M.E., Farooq, M., Khan, H.U., Nürnberg, P., Striessnig, J., Bolz, H.J.
"Loss of Ca(v)1.3 (CACNA1D) function in a human channelopathy with bradycardia and congenital deafness"
Nat Neurosci, 14, 77-84, (2011), DOI:10.1038/nn.2694, Pubmed-ID: 21131953.

Gebhart, M., Juhasz-Vedres, G., Zuccotti, A., Brandt, N., Engel, J., Trockenbacher, A., Kaur, G., Obermair, G.J., Knipper, M., Koschak, A., Striessnig, J.
"Modulation of Cav1.3 Ca2+ channel gating by Rab3 interacting molecule"
Mol Cell Neurosci, 44, 246-259, (2010), DOI:10.1016/j.mcn.2010.03.011, Pubmed-ID: 20363327.

Johnson, S. L. , Franz, C., Kuhn, S., Furness, D.N., Rüttiger, L., Münkner, S., Rivolta, M.N., Seward, E.P., Herschman, H.R., Engel, J., Knipper, M., Marcotti, W.
"Synaptotagmin IV determines the linear Ca2+ dependence of vesicle fusion at auditory ribbon synapses"
Nat Neurosci, 13, 45-52, (2010), DOI:10.1038/nn.2456, Pubmed-ID: 20010821.

Zampini, V., Johnson, S.L., Franz, C., Lawrence, N.D., Münkner, S., Engel, J., Knipper, M., Magistretti, J., Masetto, S., Marcotti, W.
"Elementary properties of CaV1.3 Ca(2+) channels expressed in mouse cochlear inner hair cells"
J Physiol, 588, 187-199, (2010), DOI:10.1113/jphysiol.2009.181917, Pubmed-ID: 19917569.

Kuhn, S., Knirsch, M., Rüttiger, L., Kasperek, S., Winter, H., Freichel, M., Flockerzi, V., Knipper, M., Engel, J.
"Ba2+ currents in inner and outer hair cells of mice lacking the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel subunits beta3 or beta4"
Channels (Austin), 3, 366-376, (2009), DOI:10.4161/chan.3.5.9774, Pubmed-ID: 19755851.

Heidrych, P., Zimmermann, U., Kuhn, S., Franz, C., Engel, J., Duncker, S.V., Hirt, B., Pusch, C.M., Ruth, P., Pfister, M., Marcotti, W., Blin, N., Knipper, M.
"Otoferlin interacts with myosin VI: implications for maintenance of the basolateral synaptic structure of the inner hair cell"
Hum Mol Genet, 18, 2779-2790, (2009), DOI:10.1093/hmg/ddp213, Pubmed-ID: 19417007.

Winter, H., Rüttiger, L., Müller, M., Kuhn, S., Brandt, N., Zimmermann, U., Hirt, B., Bress, A., Sausbier, M., Conscience, A., Flamant, F., Tian, Y., Zuo, J., Pfister, M., Ruth, P., Löwenheim, H., Samarut, J., Engel, J., Knipper, M.
"Deafness in TRbeta mutants is caused by malformation of the tectorial membrane"
J Neurosci, 29, 2581-2587, (2009), DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3557-08.2009, Pubmed-ID: 19244534.

Johnson, S. L. , Forge, A., Knipper, M., Münkner, S., Marcotti, W.
"Tonotopic variation in the calcium dependence of neurotransmitter release and vesicle pool replenishment at mammalian auditory ribbon synapses"
J Neurosci, 28, 7670-7678, (2008), DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0785-08.2008, Pubmed-ID: 18650343.

Singh, A., Gebhart, M., Fritsch, R., Sinnegger-Brauns, M.J., Poggiani, C., Hoda, J., Engel, J., Romanin, C., Striessnig, J., Koschak, A.
"Modulation of voltage- and Ca2+-dependent gating of CaV1.3 L-type calcium channels by alternative splicing of a C-terminal regulatory domain"
J Biol Chem, 283, 20733-20744, (2008), DOI:10.1074/jbc.M802254200, Pubmed-ID: 18482979.

Tarabova, B., Lacinova, L., Engel, J.
"Effects of phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines on Ca(v)1.3-mediated Ca2+ currents in neonatal mouse inner hair cells"
Eur J Pharmacol, 573, 39-48, (2007), DOI:10.1016/j.ejphar.2007.06.050, Pubmed-ID: 17651721.

Knirsch, M., Brandt, N., Braig, C., Kuhn, S., Hirt, B., Münkner, S., Knipper, M., Engel, J.
"Persistence of Ca(v)1.3 Ca2+ channels in mature outer hair cells supports outer hair cell afferent signaling"
J Neurosci, 27, 6442-6451, (2007), DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5364-06.2007, Pubmed-ID: 17567805.

Winter, H., Braig, C., Zimmermann, U., Engel, J., Rohbock, K., Knipper, M.
"Thyroid hormone receptor alpha1 is a critical regulator for the expression of ion channels during final differentiation of outer hair cells"
Histochem Cell Biol, 128, 65-75, (2007), DOI:10.1007/s00418-007-0294-6, Pubmed-ID: 17520268.

Brandt, N., Kuhn, S., Münkner, S., Braig, C., Winter, H., Blin, N., Vonthein, R., Knipper, M., Engel, J.
"Thyroid hormone deficiency affects postnatal spiking activity and expression of Ca2+ and K+ channels in rodent inner hair cells"
J Neurosci, 27, 3174-3186, (2007), DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3965-06.2007, Pubmed-ID: 17376979.

Schug, N., Braig, C., Zimmermann, U., Engel, J., Winter, H., Ruth, P., Blin, N., Pfister, M., Kalbacher, H., Knipper, M.
"Differential expression of otoferlin in brain, vestibular system, immature and mature cochlea of the rat"
Eur J Neurosci, 24, 3372-3380, (2006), DOI:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05225.x, Pubmed-ID: 17229086.

Engel, J., Braig, C., Rüttiger, L., Kuhn, S., Zimmermann, U., Blin, N., Sausbier, M., Kalbacher, H., Münkner, S., Rohbock, K., Ruth, P., Winter, H., Knipper, M.
"Two classes of outer hair cells along the tonotopic axis of the cochlea"
Neuroscience, 143, 837-849, (2006), DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.08.060, Pubmed-ID: 17074442.

Strutz-Seebohm, N., Seebohm, G., Fedorenko, O., Baltaev, R., Engel, J., Knirsch, M., Lang, F.
"Functional coassembly of KCNQ4 with KCNE-beta- subunits in Xenopus oocytes"
Cell Physiol Biochem, 18, 57-66, (2006), DOI:10.1159/000095158, Pubmed-ID: 16914890.

Winter, H., Braig, C., Zimmermann, U., Geisler, H., Fränzer, J., Weber, T., Ley, M., Engel, J., Knirsch, M., Bauer, K., Christ, S., Walsh, E.J., McGee, J., Köpschall, I., Rohbock, K., Knipper, M.
"Thyroid hormone receptors TRalpha1 and TRbeta differentially regulate gene expression of Kcnq4 and prestin during final differentiation of outer hair cells"
J Cell Sci, 119, 2975-2984, (2006), DOI:10.1242/jcs.03013, Pubmed-ID: 16803873.

Rüttiger, L., Sausbier, M., Zimmermann, U., Winter, H., Braig, C., Engel, J., Knirsch, M., Arntz, C., Langer, P., Hirt, B., Müller, M., Köpschall, I., Pfister, M., Münkner, S., Rohbock, K., Pfaff, I., Rüsch, A., Ruth, P., Knipper, M.
"Deletion of the Ca2+-activated potassium (BK) alpha-subunit but not the BKbeta1-subunit leads to progressive hearing loss"
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 101, 12922-12927, (2004), DOI:10.1073/pnas.0402660101, Pubmed-ID: 15328414.

Michna, M., Knirsch, M., Hoda, J., Muenkner, S., Langer, P., Platzer, J., Striessnig, J., Engel, J.
"Cav1.3 (alpha1D) Ca2+ currents in neonatal outer hair cells of mice"
J Physiol, 553, 747-758, (2003), DOI:10.1113/jphysiol.2003.053256, Pubmed-ID: 14514878.

Waka, N., Knipper, M., Engel, J.
"Localization of the calcium channel subunits Cav1.2 (alpha1C) and Cav2.3 (alpha1E) in the mouse organ of Corti"
Histol Histopathol, 18, 1115-1123, (2003), DOI:10.14670/HH-18.1115, Pubmed-ID: 12973680.

Engel, J., Michna, M., Platzer, J., Striessnig, J.
"Calcium channels in mouse hair cells: function, properties and pharmacology"
Adv Otorhinolaryngol, 59, 35-41, (2002), DOI:10.1159/000059243, Pubmed-ID: 11885659.

Koschak, A., Reimer, D., Huber, I., Grabner, M., Glossmann, H., Engel, J., Striessnig, J.
"alpha 1D (Cav1.3) subunits can form l-type Ca2+ channels activating at negative voltages"
J Biol Chem, 276, 22100-22106, (2001), DOI:10.1074/jbc.M101469200, Pubmed-ID: 11285265.

Platzer, J., Engel, J., Schrott-Fischer, A., Stephan, K., Bova, S., Chen, H., Zheng, H., Striessnig, J.
"Congenital deafness and sinoatrial node dysfunction in mice lacking class D L-type Ca2+ channels"
Cell, 102, 89-97, (2000), DOI:10.1016/s0092-8674(00)00013-1, Pubmed-ID: 10929716.

Engel, J., Schultens, H.A., Schild, D.
"Small conductance potassium channels cause an activity-dependent spike frequency adaptation and make the transfer function of neurons logarithmic"
Biophys J, 76, 1310-1319, (1999), DOI:10.1016/S0006-3495(99)77293-0, Pubmed-ID: 10049314.

Althaus, H. H. , Hempel, R., Klöppner, S., Engel, J., Schmidt-Schultz, T., Kruska, L., Heumann, R.
"Nerve growth factor signal transduction in mature pig oligodendrocytes"
J Neurosci Res, 50, 729-742, (1997), DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4547(19971201)50:5<729::AID-JNR10>3.0.CO;2-X, Pubmed-ID: 9418961.

Engel, J., Rabba, J., Schild, D.
"A transient, RCK4-like K+ current in cultured Xenopus olfactory bulb neurons"
Pflugers Arch, 432, 845-852, (1996), DOI:10.1007/s004240050207, Pubmed-ID: 8772135.

Jung, A., Lischka, F.W., Engel, J., Schild, D.
"Sodium/calcium exchanger in olfactory receptor neurones of Xenopus laevis"
Neuroreport, 5, 1741-1744, (1994), DOI:10.1097/00001756-199409080-00013, Pubmed-ID: 7827321.

Engel, J., Althaus, H.H., Kristjansson, G.I.
"NGF increases [Ca2+]i in regenerating mature oligodendroglial cells"
Neuroreport, 5, 397-400, (1994), DOI:10.1097/00001756-199401120-00006, Pubmed-ID: 8003662.

Engel, J., Donath, E.
"Osmotic lysis of chromaffin granules treated with the ionophores nigericin and A23187 in isotonic sucrose solution at low pH"
Biochim Biophys Acta, 1064, 155-161, (1991), DOI:10.1016/0005-2736(91)90422-5, Pubmed-ID: 2025634.

Engel, J., Pastushenko, V.F., Richter, W., Donath, E.
"On the interaction between chromaffin granule membranes and intragranular vesicles--theory and analysis of freeze-fracture micrographs"
Biorheology, 28, 75-87, (1991), DOI:10.3233/bir-1991-281-208, Pubmed-ID: 2049534.

Engel, J., Ermakov, Y.A., Richter, W., Donath, E.
"Two different types of lysis of chromaffin granules characterised by freeze-fracture electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy"
Biochim Biophys Acta, 1028, 236-244, (1990), DOI:10.1016/0005-2736(90)90172-k, Pubmed-ID: 2223797.

Engel, J., Donath, E., Ermakov, Y.A., Meyer, H.W., Richter, W.
"Hyperosmotic relaxation lysis of chromaffin granules is caused by interactions between the granular membrane and intragranular vesicles"
Biochim Biophys Acta, 985, 111-119, (1989), DOI:10.1016/0005-2736(89)90354-4, Pubmed-ID: 2553113.

DFG Priority Programme (PP) 1608 (since 2012)

Ultrafast and temporally precise information processing: normal and dysfunctional hearing

International Research and Training Group (IRTG) 1830 (since 2012)

Complex Membrane Proteins in Cellular Development and Desease

Collaborative Research Centre (SfB) 894, TP A8 (2011-2023)

Ca²⁺Signaling: Molecular Mechanisms und Integrative Functions

Collaborative Research Centre (SfB) 1027, TP4 (2013-2016)

Physical modeling of non-equilibrium processes in biological systems

Promotionskolleg Universität Tübingen TP Engel (2007-2008)

Funktion und Pathophysiologie der Sinneszellen im Innenohr

EU Research Training Network CavNET (2006-2010)

L-type Ca²⁺ channels in health and disease

Fortüne (2006-2007

Rolle der K+-Ströme durch SK2- und BKCa-Kanäle bei der efferenten Inhibition äußerer Haarsinneszellen der Ratten-Cochlea

Fortüne (2005-2006)

Einfluss von Thyroidhormon auf die Spontanaktivität cochleärer Haarsinneszellen vor Hörbeginn

Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (2006-2007)

Einfluss elektromagnetischer Wechselfelder auf Ca-Ströme in inneren Haarsinneszellen, Teil II

Forschungsschwerpunktprogramm Baden-Württemberg (2004-2006)

Identifizierung und Charakterisierung eines funktionell gekoppelten multimeren Ionenkanal-Komplexes in Haarsinneszellen

Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (2004-2006)

Einfluss elektromagnetischer Wechselfelder auf Ca-Ströme in inneren Haarsinneszellen, Teil I

DFG En 294/2-4 (2003-2005)

Ca²⁺-Kanäle und Calcium-Mikrodomänen in Haarsinneszellen der Maus

DFG En 294/2-3 (2002-2003)

Charakterisierung der Ca²⁺ Kanäle in inneren Haarzellen der Maus

Royal Society Joint Project Grant (2001 - 2003)

Computer simulation of the electrophysiology of mammalian hair cells - together with Corné Kros from Sussex University, Falmer, Brighton, UK

DFG En 294/2-1,2 (1999-2001)

Charakterisierung der Ca²⁺ Kanäle in inneren Haarzellen der Maus

We focus on investigating the function of inner hair cells and primary auditory neurons of the mammalian inner ear. Inner hair cells represent the first step of neuronal processing in the inner ear.  They transform the acoustic stimulus into the release of neurotransmitter at specialized synapses (ribbon synapses), which elicits neuronal activity on the auditory nerve that is subsequently transmitted via several intermediate stages to the cortex.

We are especially interested in the electrical properties of inner hair cells and and primary auditory neurons and their signal transmission via the release of neurotransmitter. In the lab we use techniques such as electrophysiological (patch-clamp) measurements, immunohistochemistry, Ca²⁺ imaging, molecular biology techniques and hearing measurements.

Specifically we are interested in:

• the electrophysiology of voltage dependent Ca²⁺ and K⁺ ion channels in inner hair cells and primary auditory neurons
• especially the electrophysiology and molecular biology of the "neuro-endocrine" Ca_v1.3 Ca²⁺ channel, which activates very fast at very negative potentials, permitting  very sensitive signal transduction with a high temporal fidelity
• the role of accessory Ca²⁺ channel subunits for the morphology and function of auditory nerve synapses (“endbulbs of Held”)
• the spatial organisation of Ca2+ channels and their co-localisation with other ion channels and proteins at the pre-synaptic zone of the inner hair cell
• the role of spontaneous activity (Ca²⁺ action potentials) for the  final differentiation of hair cells and the auditory pathway
• Ca²⁺ transients and Ca²⁺ waves in the inner ear
• the development of an electrophysiological model of the hair cell

research interest