In the central nervous system, information processing—including learning and memory—depends on communication between nerve cells (neurons). This communication occurs at specialized junctions called synapses. Our research group focuses on analyzing these synaptic connections, especially the molecular organization of the postsynaptic side of chemical synapses. Under the electron microscope, this region appears as the postsynaptic density (PSD).
At the postsynaptic membrane, neurotransmitter receptors—such as those for glutamate—are densely packed. We study the proteins that help anchor and organize these receptors at the right place in the synapse. Additionally, we are interested in how synapses can be structurally remodeled, strengthened, or even dismantled—a process crucial for brain plasticity.
To answer these questions, we use a broad range of experimental techniques, including classical histology, cell culture, biochemistry, molecular biology, and mouse genetics.
A key focus of our work is the ProSAP/Shank protein family, which plays a central role in the organization of the PSD. These proteins link the PSD to the actin cytoskeleton and function as “master scaffolding molecules” by interacting with many other synaptic proteins (see Böckers TM et al., J Neuroscience 1999; J Neurochem 2002). We investigate how ProSAP/Shank proteins contribute to synaptic function, which parts of their structure are important for localization at the PSD, and which molecules they interact with. We also perform experiments to alter their expression in neurons and analyze the resulting effects.