Nils Brose

Professor, Director at the MPI for Experimental Medicine

• Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.) 1990, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
  

• Appointed as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine 2001

Major Research Interests:

Nils Brose

Research in the Department of Molecular Neurobiology focuses on the molecular mechanisms of synapse formation and function in the vertebrate central nervous system. Typically, synapses are formed between cellular processes of a sending and a receiving nerve cell. They are the central information processing units in the vertebrate brain where some 1012 nerve cells are connected by 1015 synapses to form an elaborate and highly structured neuronal network that is the basis for all forms of behaviour. Signal transmission at synapses is mediated by the regulated release of signal molecules (neurotransmitters) which then diffuse to the receiving nerve cell and change its physiological state. In the Department of Molecular Neurobiology, we combine biochemical, morphological, mouse genetic, behavioural, and physiological methods to elucidate the molecular basis of synapse formation and transmitter release processes. Our synaptogenesis research concentrates on synaptic cell adhesion proteins and their role in synapse formation. Studies on the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release focus on components of the presynaptic active zone and their regulatory function in synaptic vesicle fusion.

Address:
MPI for Experimental Medicine
Dept. of Molecular Neurobiology
Hermann-Rein-Str. 3
37075 Göttingen
Germany

phone: +49-551-38 99725
fax: +49-551-38 99707
e-mail:

Further Information:
http://www.em.mpg.de

Selected Recent Publications:

Rhee J-S, Betz A, Pyott S, Reim K, Varoqueaux F, Augustin I, Hesse D, Südhof TC, Takahashi M, Rosenmund C, Brose N (2002) Beta Phorbol ester- and diacylglycerol-induced augmentation of transmitter release is mediated by Munc13s and not by PKCs. Cell 108: 121-133

Junge H, Rhee J-S, Jahn O, Varoqueaux F, Spiess J, Waxham MN, Rosenmund C, Brose N (2004) Calmodulin and Munc13 form a Ca2+-sensor/effector complex that controls short-term synaptic plasticity. Cell 118: 389-401

Reim K, Wegmeyer H, Brandstätter JH, Xue M, Rosenmund C, Dresbach T, Hofmann K, Brose N (2005) Structurally and functionally unique Complexins at retinal ribbon synapses. J Cell Biol 169: 669-680

Varoqueaux F, Aramuni G, Rawson RL, Mohrmann R, Missler M, Gottmann K, Zhang W, Südhof TC, Brose N (2006) Neuroligins determine synapse maturation and function. Neuron 51: 741-754

Jockusch W, Speidel D, Sigler A, Sørensen J, Varoqueaux F, Rhee J-S, Brose N (2007) CAPS-1 and CAPS-2 are essential synaptic vesicle priming proteins. Cell 131: 796-808

Jamain S, Radyushkin K, Hammerschmidt K, Granon S, Boretius S, Varoqueaux F, Ramanantsoa N, Gallego J, Ronnenberg A, Winter D, Frahm J, Fischer J, Bourgeron T, Ehrenreich H, Brose N (2008) Reduced social interaction and ultrasonic communication in a mouse model of monogenic heritable autism. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105: 1710-1715