European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen
Molecular Neurobiology
Grisebachstr. 5

37077 - Göttingen
Germany

+49-551-39-10374
+49-551-39 12346
oschlue@gwdg.de

Job opportunities

Activity-dependent modulations of synaptic transmission are important mechanisms of information processing and storage in neuronal circuits. A variety of related but mechanistically distinct forms of synaptic plasticity have been described in in vitro preparations of brain slices.

A major goal of my laboratory is to elucidate the underlying molecular events, leading to and regulating changes in synaptic efficacy. Newly developed techniques of molecular replacement, using mouse genetics and/or viral-mediated gene transfer allow us to manipulate the molecular composition of single neurons in a spatial and temporal controlled manner.

In particular, we are able to investigate the effects of heterologously expressed proteins on the background of wild-type neurons, or neurons, in which the endogenous protein expression is diminished. We combine this technique with simultaneous dual whole cell patch clamp recordings from rodent brain slices to monitor changes in synaptic efficacy in the manipulated cell in comparison to the neighboring control cell.

Knowledge gained from the understanding of molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity will ultimately provide important clues for the function of neuronal ircuits and potentially the functioning of the brain.

Schlüter* OM, Xu* W, Malenka RC. Alternative N-terminal domains of PSD-95 and SAP97 govern activity-dependent regulation of synaptic AMPA receptor function. Neuron. 2006; 51(1):99-111.

Schlüter OM, Basu J, Südhof TC, Rosenmund C. Rab3 superprimes synaptic vesicles for release: implications for short-term synaptic plasticity. J Neurosci. 2006; 26(4):1239-46.

Chandra S, Gallardo G, Fernandez-Chacon R, Schlüter OM, Südhof TC. Alpha-synuclein cooperates with CSPalpha in preventing neurodegeneration. Cell. 2005; 123(3):383-96.

Fornai F, Schlüter OM, Lenzi P, Gesi M, Ruffoli R, Ferrucci M, Lazzeri G, Busceti CL, Pontarelli F, Battaglia G, Pellegrini A, Nicoletti F, Ruggieri S, Paparelli A, Südhof TC. Parkinson-like syndrome induced by continuous MPTP infusion: convergent roles of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and alpha-synuclein.PNAS. 2005; 102(9):3413-8.

Schlüter OM, Schmitz F, Jahn R, Rosenmund C, Südhof TC. A complete genetic analysis of neuronal Rab3 function.J Neurosci. 2004; 24(29):6629-37.

Schlüter OM, Fornai F, Alessandri MG, Takamori S, Geppert M, Jahn R, Südhof TC. Role of alpha-synuclein in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced parkinsonism in mice.Neuroscience. 2003; 118(4):985-1002.

Schlüter* OM, Khvotchev* M, Jahn R, Südhof TC. Localization versus function of Rab3 proteins. Evidence for a common regulatory role in controlling fusion. J Biol Chem. 2002; 277(43):40919-29.

Schlüter OM, Schnell E, Verhage M, Tzonopoulos T, Nicoll RA, Janz R, Malenka RC, Geppert M, Südhof TC. Rabphilin knock-out mice reveal that rabphilin is not required for rab3 function in regulating neurotransmitter release. J Neurosci. 1999; 19(14):5834-46.