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Gwenaelle  Géléoc
Degree(s): Ph.D.
Graduate School: University of Montpellier II (France)
Primary Appointment: Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Research Interests:
Voltage dependent and mechanosensitive channels

Email Address: gg3h@virginia.edu
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program(s)
  • Neuroscience
    • Research Description

    Development of sensory hair cells of the inner ear
    The sensory receptor cells of the inner ear located in the cochlea provide the sense of hearing; in the vestibular organs they detect linear acceleration and rotational velocity.  These receptor cells called hair cells possess a specialized structure, a hair bundle (or stereociliary bundle).  Stimulation of the hair bundle by mechanical deflection will lead to a modulation of the receptor potential via activation of mechanosensitive ion channels.  In vestibular and cochlear inner hair cells this modulation will induce transmitter release and activation of the afferent synapse.  In the case of cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) a voltage dependent axial length change takes place that will influence the mechanics of the cochlea and enhance its sensitivity and frequency selectivity.
    In my lab, we work towards elucidating how hair cells acquire the remarkable functions of mechanotransduction and sensory signaling.  This project is driven by the need to establish the fundamentals of normal hair-cell development to understand the etiology of congenital auditory and vestibular disorders, particularly those that affect hair-cells.  Knowledge of how and when hair cells begin to function is also critical for an understanding of development of the auditory and vestibular systems.
     
    Current research projects include:
    1- Characterization of mechanotransduction and adaptation in mouse vestibular and cochlear hair cells.
    2- Identification of the molecular players involved in transduction and adaptation.
    2- Characterization of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development and function of the hair bundle. 
    3- Study of voltage-sensitive conductances expressed by developing hair cells. 
    4- Development of an inducible and reversible expression system specific to hair cells.
     

    Selected Publications

  • J.R. Holt , E. Stauffer , D. Abraham and G.S.G. Géléoc (2007) Dominant-Negative Inhibition of M-Like Potassium Conductances in Hair Cells of the Mouse Inner Ear. J. Neuroscience , 27:8940-8951. Cover picture of the 2007 Dec 19 Journal issue.

  • M. Senften , M. Schwander , P. Kazmierczak , C. Lillo , J-B. Shin , T. Hasson , G.S.G. Géléoc , P.G. Gillespie , D. Williams , J.R. Holt and U. Müller (2006). Physical and functional interaction between protocadherin 15 and myosin VIIa in mechanosensory hair cells. J. Neurosci. , 26:2060-71

  • G.S.G. Géléoc , J.R. Risner and J.R. Holt (2004) Developmental Acquisition of Voltage Dependent Conductances and Sensory Signaling in Hair Cells of the Embryonic Mouse Inner Ear. , J. Neuroscience , 24:11148-11159. Cover picture of the 2004 Dec 08 Journal issue.

  • G.S.G. Géléoc and J.R. Holt (2003. Developmental Acquisition of Sensory Transduction in Hair Cells of the Mouse Inner Ear. Nature Neuroscience , 6 :1019-1020

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    Contact Information
      Office Address: PO Box 801392, MR-4, 5122, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-243-9942, +1 434-243-9499
      Fax Phone: +1 434-982-4380

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    http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/neurosci/Faculty/Geleoc/geleoc.cfm

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