Research in NPlast at the LIN in Magdeburg is concerned with fundamental questions on how synapses communicate with the nucleus, how gene activity-dependent gene expression feeds back to synaptic function and how this is related to the formation of a cellular engram and last but not least how the nanoscale organization of the synapse determines functional properties in the context of learning and memory. We use a multi-disciplinary approach with studies ranging from single molecules to in vivo animal experimentation. We also address translational aspects where we try to understand whether the processes that we investigate might be relevant for disease.
The Leibniz Group 'Dendritic Organelles and Synaptic Function' at the ZMNH in Hamburg investigates how microsecretory systems and organelles in neurites are involved in synaptic function. Some reports have indicated that hybrid organelles might exist in neurons but very little is known about their assembly and their functional role. We are interested in organelles like autophagosomes, lysosomes, and Golgi satellites and their local contribution to neurotransmission.
