Prof. Dr. Jürgen Klingauf
Synaptic transmission
Biophysics
Imaging Technology
Cell Biology/Neurobiology
The focus of our research is the study of synaptic transmission, with the emphasis on presynaptic mechanisms. At the synapse, neurotransmitter is rapidly released from small vesicles which are triggered to fuse with the plasma membrane by the entry of Ca2+ ions. The maintenance of synaptic transmission requires that these vesicles be retrieved by a reverse process, i.e. endocytosis. How is this endocytic activity and subsequent formation of fusion-competent vesicles coupled to exocytosis? In order to delineate the underlying mechanisms we developed a new neuronal culture system, where functional, purely presynaptic boutons are formed on microstructured and functionalized glass coverslips. Single synaptic vesicles and single fluorescently labelled proteins can be visualized by live-cell and high-resolution imaging techniques like total internal reflection microscopy (TIRFM), nanoscopy (PALM, STORM, STED), and electron microscopy. By transfection of neurons or CRISPR/Cas-mediated knock-down we can target or modulate specific proteins thought to be pivotal in synaptic vesicle recycling.
Specific questions that can be addressed in a PhD project include among others:
1) How are stimulated exo- and endocyosis molecularly coupled?
3) How are the active zones for vesicle fusion as well as the endocytic sites ultrastructurely and molecularly organized?
Vita
- 1988 - 1984: Studies in Biology and Physics, Universities of Hamburg and Bonn
- 1995 - 1998: Guest researcher with Prof. Richard W. Tsien, Dept. of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
- 1999: Graduation Dr. rer. nat. (Physics), University of Göttingen
- 1999 - 2001: Postdoc with Prof. Dr. Erwin Neher, Dept. of Membrane Biophysics, MPI Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen
- 2001 - 2008: Independent research group leader, MPI Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen
- Since 2001: Faculty Member of the Neuroscience Graduate Study Program of the Max-Planck Institutes and University of Gottingen.
- Since 2008: Professor and Chair of Medical Biophysics, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Münster
Selected references
Martineau M, Guzman RE, Fahlke C, Klingauf J (2017). VGLUT1 functions as a glutamate/proton exchanger with a chloride channel activity at hippocampal glutamatergic terminals. Nat Commun. 8:2279.
Rajappa R, Gauthier-Kemper A, Böning D, Hüve J, Klingauf J (2016). Synaptophysin 1 clears Synaptobrevin 2 from the presynaptic active zone to prevent short-term depression. Cell Rep. 14(6):1369-81.
Hua Y, Woehler A, Kahms M, Haucke V, Neher E, Klingauf J (2013). Blocking endocytosis enhances short-term synaptic depression under conditions of ample availability of vesicles. Neuron 80, 343-9.
Hua Y, Sinha R, Thiel CS, Schmidt R, Hueve J, Martens H, Hell SW, Egner A, Klingauf J (2011). A readily retrievable pool of synaptic vesicles. Nat Neurosci. 14: 833-839.
Hua Y, Sinha R, Martineau M, Kahms M, Klingauf J (2010). A common origin of synaptic vesicles undergoing evoked and spontaneous fusion. Nat Neurosci. 13: 1451-1453.
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