to study

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS MEDIATING NEUROTRANSMITTER RELEASE

at the  UNIVERSITY OF SAARLAND

(Homburg/Saar) Germany

Ph.D. positions are available to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that mediate neuronal exocytosis. Our goal is to define the molecular events that couple Ca2+ signaling to the release of neurotransmitter. We  are  addressing  this  problem  with  state-of-the-art  molecular  (knock-out  mice),biochemical, electrophysiological  and  fluorescence  microscopy  techniques  (e.g.  carbon fiber  amperometry, membrane capacitance measurements, Ca2+-imaging, SIM and STED microscopy). The work is directly supported by technical personnel and applicants are given the opportunity to extend their research interest internationally through project–oriented collaborations with groups in the USA. Applicants with a physical, biochemical or biological background are encouraged to apply.

Please send your curriculum vitae and a brief statement of research interest to: Prof. Dr. Dieter Bruns, Dept. of Physiology, Center of Integrated Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, 66421 Homburg, Building 48, Germany, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Exemplary publications:

Schwarz Y, Oleinikov K, Schindeldecker B, Wyatt A, Weißgerber P, Flockerzi V, Boehm U, Freichel M, Bruns D (2019). TRPC channels regulate Ca2+-signaling and short-term plasticity of fast glutamatergic synapses. PLOS Biol., doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000445

Makke M, Mantero Martinez M, Gaya S, Schwarz Y, Frisch W, Silva-Bermudez L, Jung M2, Mohrmann R, Dhara M, Bruns D (2018). A mechanism for exocytotic arrest by the Complexin C-terminus. Elife. doi: 10.7554/eLife.38981.

Dhara M, Mohrmann R, Bruns D (2018). v-SNARE function in chromaffin cells. Pflugers Arch., 470:169-180.

Schwarz Y, Zhao N, Kirchhoff F, Bruns D. (2017). Astrocytes control synaptic strength by two distinct v-SNARE-dependent release pathways. Nat Neurosci.20:1529-1539.