Christoph FAHLKE
Institute of Biological Information Processing
Molecular and Cellular Physiology (IBI-1)
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
52428 Jülich
GERMANY
Website Christoph Fahlke

Program

”Regulation of intracellular chloride concentrations”

Chloride is the main physiological anion. There are various secondary-active Cl^- transporters that generate gradients across surface membranes and the membranes of intracellular compartments, which are utilized in multiple cellular processes. In the central nervous system, inhibitory synaptic transmission requires low [Cl^-]_int in postsynaptic neurons. At excitatory synapses, changes in [Cl^-]_int may alter glutamate loading of synaptic vesicles and affect its release. In neurons and glial cells, GABA uptake is stoichiometrically coupled to Cl^- transport. In all cells, Cl^- fluxes through channels or transporters are necessary for volume regulatory processes, and high lysosomal [Cl^-] appears to support membrane integrity. The talk will summarize report recent work of my laboratory on mechanisms that regulate cytoplasmic and organelle [Cl^-] in glial cells, in synaptic vesicles and in lysosome. Special emphasis will be on the role of neurotransmitter transporters and on alterations of [Cl^-] in human diseases.

Host: Harald SITTE

Contact for questions: Helmut KUBISTA