Field of
Study
Molecular
mechanisms involved in the processes of endocytosis and exocytosis in hormone
secreting cells:
The ultimate requirement
for calcium ions in secretion of both hormones and neurotransmitters has been
known since decades. Nevertheless, the particular molecular processes in which
calcium ions play a role is still unresolved, as is the cascade of events
leading to the fusion of the vesicle and cell membranes. Recently, calcium has
been shown to affect also the process of endocytosis, which probably uses a
specific protein dynamin. In our lab we study endo- and exocytotic activity
using the electrophysiology method of path-clamp capacitance recording.