Research in the Institute for Biochemistry I contributes to deepen our knowledge about the molecular basis of life. Such understanding is a prerequisite for specific, targeted interventions into cellular processes underlying disease and thus also represents a focus in teaching.

Our studies of cellular morphology and function allow by using cell and animal models substantial insights into neuronal network formation, information transmission and plasticity.

Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann
Nonnenplan 2-4, 07743 Jena

Institute of Biochemistry 1

Selected research projects

Characterization of physiological and pathophysiological N-Ank proteins in membrane shaping and cellular morphogenesis

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann
DFG 2020-2023

The comprehensive characterization of the molecular mechanistic properties of so far only predicted members of the N-Ank family, a new class of powerful membrane shapers [Wolf et al., 2019], that have been associated with several human diseases and pathophysiologies and of their cellular role in physiology and disease is expected to prove the universality of the N-Ank module on one side and to furthermore define and explain distinct cellular functions of N-Ank proteins.

Enlightening inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor organization and dynamics applying high-end microscopy

Principal Investigators: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Rainer Heintzmann (IPHT)
DFG (CRC/TR 166) 2015-2020

The regulation of glycine receptor numbers and organization at synapses is essential for the efficacy of inhibition and the control of neuronal excitability in the spinal cord. The project therefore aims at analyzing the dynamics and the organization of glycine receptor clusters and the particular role of syndapin I for receptor trafficking and for receptor clustering and organization [Koch et al., 2020] applying super-resolution light microscopy [Tröger et al., 2020].

Differentially regulated, dynamic syndapin complexes - modulators of membrane topology and transport

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann
DFG 2009-2021

Syndapins link and coordinate cytoskeletal and vesicle formation machineries [Koch et al., 2020]. These functions are based on syndapin self-association and the formation of multivalent superstructures linking syndapin interaction partners allowing membrane association and membrane bending. Further investigations in vivo demonstrate that these functions are crucial for membrane trafficking and cell morphology control.

Signalling pathways controlling actin dynamics in adaptive stress responses in the brain underlying neuronal plasticity

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann
DFG (GRK1715) 2012-2021

Ca²⁺-dependent complex formation of the actin nucleator Cobl with calmodulin appears to represent a molecular mechanism for interconnecting signaling processes to cytoskeleton-driven structural and functional adaptive responses in neurons. Our studies shall unveil the exact signaling cascades involved and their temporal coordination during adaptive stress responses in neuronal development, differentiation and plasticity.

Temporal and spatial analyses of signalling cues in the membranes of postsynaptic spines during synaptic plasticity

Principal Investigator: PD Dr. Michael Kessels
DFG (GRK1715) 2018-2021

A deeper understanding of synaptic plasticity requires knowledge about how the subcellular signals and the effectors, which execute postsynaptic rearrangements, are controlled in time and space. Our main goal is a temporal and spatial analysis of signalling cues in the membranes of postsynaptic spines responding to different, distinct dose- and time-dependent stimulation paradigms of the neurotransmitter and stressor glutamate.

Selective targeting of hepatocytes using multifunctional block copolymer micelles to restore critical cellular signaling functions

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Felix Schacher (FSU Jena) and Prof. Dr. Michael Bauer (KAI)
DFG (SFB 1278) 2017-2021

The aim of this project is to design multifunctional core-shell-corona micelles with controllable size, net charge, and charge density that allow for cell-type specific delivery of siRNA into hepatocytes. The goal is to achieve an efficient and cell-type specific delivery of phosphoinositid-3-kinase (PI3K)-γ attacking substances reflecting a promising strategy to prevent sepsis-associated hepatic dysfunction.

The actin nucleator Cordon-bleu (Cobl) – elucidation of regulatory mechanisms and cellular functions

Principal Investigator: PD Dr. Michael Kessels
DFG 2011-2019

Correct formation and plasticity of cellular morphology is essential for life of all eukaryots. The successful generation of Cobl-deficient organisms allows insights into the role of this novel actin nucleator in the development, differentiation and function of cells in the intact organism [Beer et al., 2020]. These analyses showed that different types of ciliary structures in the inner ear depend on the function of the actin nucleator Cobl.

Further projects

Hepatocyte-specific targeting of PI3kinase to prevent sepsis-associated excretory failure

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Michael Bauer (Anesthesiology and Intensive Care)

BMBF (CSCC) 2015 – 2019
Function of the Ca²⁺-regulated actin nucleator Cobl in cellular plasticity following stroke

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann in cooperation with Dr. Christiane Frahm (Neurology)

IZKF 2015-2022
Role of proteins involved in membrane and actin cytoskeleton dynamics in aging dependent impairments of neuronal plasticity and regeneration

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Britta Qualmann

TMWWDG (ProExzellenz II RegenerAging) 10/2015 – 08/2020
Evaluation of innovative monolitic matrices for the parallel and automated high-throughput separation of proteins (affinity chromatography)

Principal Investigator: apl. Prof. Dr. Heidrun Rhode

TAB (Pro-Tip-Screening) 2018 – 2019
Molecular mechanisms of the Ca2⁺/Calmodulin-mediated control of actin cytoskeleton-driven neuromorphogenesis processes mediated by the actin nucleator JMY

Principal Investigator: Dr. Maryam Izadi

IZKF Medical Scientist Programm 2019 – 2022

Selected publisations

Wolf, D., Hofbrucker-MacKenzie, S. A., Izadi, M., Seemann, E., Steiniger, F., Schwintzer, L., Koch, D., Kessels, M. M., Qualmann, B. (2019). Ankyrin repeat-containing N-Ank proteins shape cellular membranes. Nat Cell Biol. 21, 1191-1205
Bocker, H.T., Heinrich, T., Liebmann, L., Hennings, J.C., Seemann, E., Gerth, M., Jakovčevski, I., Preobraschenski, J., Kessels, M.M., Westermann, M., Isbrandt, D., Jahn, R., Qualmann, B., Hübner, C.A. (2019). The Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger Nhe1 modulates network excitability via GABA release. Cortex 29, 4263-4276
Rhode, H., Muckova, P., Büchler, R., Wendler, S., Tautkus, B., Vogel, M., Moore, T., Grosskreutz, J., Klemm, A., Nabity, M. (2019). A next generation setup for pre-fractionation of non-denatured proteins reveals diverse albumin proteoforms each carrying several post-translational modifications. Sci. Rep. 9, 11733
Beer, A. J., González Delgado, J., Steiniger, F., Qualmann, B., Kessels, M. M. (2020).The actin nucleator Cobl organises the terminal web of enterocytes. Sci. Rep. 10, 11156
Beer, A. J., Hertz, D., Seemann, E., Beretta, M., Westermann, M., Bauer, R., Bauer, M., Kessels, M. M., Qualmann, B. (2020). Reduced Mrp2 surface availability as PI3Kγ-mediated hepatocytic dysfunction reflecting a hallmark of cholestasis in sepsis. Sci. Rep. 10, 13110
Kessels, M.M., Qualmann, B. (2020). The role of membrane-shaping BAR domain proteins in caveolar invagination: from mechanistic insights to pathophysiological consequences. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 48, 137-146
Koch, N., Koch, D., Krueger, S., Tröger, J., Sabanov, V., Ahmed, T., McMillan, L. E., Wolf, D., Montag, D., Kessels, M. M., Balschun, D., Qualmann, B. (2020). Syndapin I loss-of-function in mice leads to schizophrenia-like symptoms. Cereb. Cortex 30, 4306-4324
Langlhofer, G., Schaefer, N., Maric, H.M., Keramidas, A., Zhang, Y., Baumann, P., Blum, R., Breitinger, U., Strømgaard, K., Schlosser, A., Kessels, M.M., Koch, D., Qualmann, B., Breitinger, H.G., Lynch, J.W., Villmann, C. (2020). A novel glycine receptor variant with startle disease affects syndapin I and glycinergic inhibition. J. Neurosci. 40, 4954-4969
Tröger, J., Hoischen, C., Perner, B., Monajembashi, S., Barbotin, A., Löschberger, A., Eggeling, C., Kessels, M. M., Qualmann, B., Hemmerich, P. (2020). Comparison of multiscale imaging methods for brain research. Cells 9, 1377