Study of phototransduction in retinal/extraretinal photoreceptors

Short description of the research team

Thematic fields of interest/research areas: study of phototransduction in retinal/extraretinal photoreceptors by recording their photoresponse in whole-cell patch-clamp, following the delivery of computer controlled light stimuli of any temporal pattern or wavelength, with the possibility to extracellularly apply and remove in 50 msec drugs, ions, etc, and to apply intracellularly phototransduction proteins and antibodies with a controlled timing. A second line of research consists in the electrophysiological study of pore forming peptides inserted in artificial membranes or in cell membranes: peptides can be applied and removed extracellularly with the fast perfusion system.

Head of the team: Prof. Giorgio Rispoli

Team members: Dr. Mascia Benedusi, Dr. Marta Martini, Dr. Rita Canella

Research infrastructures: Three electrophysiological setups, all equipped with fast intracellular and extracellular perfusion system, one equipped also with fast fluorescence imaging, fast photolysis of caged compounds and computer-controlled light stimulation for photoreceptors. The electrophysiological technique employ pressure-polished patch pipettes.

Prerequisites of the trainee researcher:

Level of education: “Marie Curie Individual Fellowship” Action requirements.
Research experience: patch-clamp electrophysiology
Required working language: English
Further required requisites: Candidates autonomous in patch-clamp recordings are preferred

Contact: prof. Giorgio Rispoli - giorgio.rispoli@unife.it - Skype name: g.rispoli