Biochemistry I - Receptor biochemistry

Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Role of Glutamate Receptors in the Neural Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells

Electrical signals play an important role during brain development, e.g. in the formation of connections between neurons. These electrical signals are partly mediated by glutamate receptors. The exact receptor composition and the role of particular subunits are difficult to study in the brain itself. Therefore, we use embryonic stem cells as a model system to analyse the importance of particular glutamate receptors for the differentiation to neurons. more...

Project-Related Publications

• S. Pachernegg, S. Eilebrecht, E. Eilebrecht, H. Schöneborn, S. Neumann, A.G. Benecke, and M. Hollmann (2018).
  The siRNA-mediated knockdown of GluN3A in 46C-derived neural stem cells affects mRNA expression levels of neural genes, including known iGluR interactors.
  PLoS ONE 13(2): e0192242.
  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192242
  Abstract
   
• S. Pachernegg, Y. Münster, E. Muth-Köhne, G. Fuhrmann, and M. Hollmann (2015).
  GluA2 is rapidly edited at the Q/R site during neural differentiation in vitro.
  Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 9: 69.
  doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00069
  Abstract
   
• S. Pachernegg, I. Joshi, E. Muth-Köhne, S. Pahl, Y. Münster, J. Terhag, M. Karus, M. Werner, Z.-L. Ma-Högemeier, C. Körber, T. Grunwald, A. Faissner, S. Wiese, and M. Hollmann (2013).
  Undifferentiated embryonic stem cells express ionotropic glutamate receptor mRNAs.
  Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 7: 241.
  doi: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00241
  Abstract
   
• E. Muth-Köhne, S. Pachernegg, M. Karus, A. Faissner, and M. Hollmann (2010).
  Expression of NMDA receptors and Ca²⁺-impermeable AMPA receptors requires neuronal differentiation and allows discrimination between two different types of neural stem cells.
  Cell. Physiol. Biochem. 26(6): 935-946.
  doi: 10.1159/000324002
  Abstract
   
• E. Muth-Köhne, J. Terhag, S. Pahl, M. Werner, I. Joshi, and M. Hollmann (2010).
  Functional excitatory GABA_A receptors precede ionotropic glutamate receptors in radial glia-like neural stem cells.
  Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 43(2): 209-221.
  doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2009.11.002
  Abstract
   

Project-Related Doctoral Theses

• Svenja Pachernegg
  The role of the NMDA receptor subunit NR3A during the development of in vitro-generated neural stem cells
  October 2008 to June 2014
   
• Elke Muth-Köhne
  Investigations on the expression and influence of ionotropic neurotransmitter receptors during stem cell development and differentiation
  October 2005 to October 2009
  Download thesis as pdf (29,9 MB)
   
• Illah Joshi
  Analysis of glutamate receptor expression in primary neurons, stem cells, and transfected cells
  May 2002 to October 2007
  Download thesis as pdf (3,9 MB)
   

Project-Related Master Theses

• Yvonne Münster
  Downregulation of ADAR2 in embryonic stem cells and neuroepithelial precursor cells
  19.09.2013 to 18.03.2014
   
• Steffen Pahl
  Expression of glutamate receptor accessory proteins during neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells
  10.08.2009 to 21.06.2010
   
• Svenja Pachernegg
  The role of the NMDA receptor subunit NR3A during the development of in vitro-generated neural stem cells
  30.12.2007 to 24.09.2008
   

Project-Related Bachelor Theses

• Yvonne Münster
  Investigations on the expression of synaptic markers during neuronal differenciation
  30.09.2011
   
• Gloria Fuhrmann
  Investigation of RNA editing during differentiation of neural stem cells
  27.11.2008
   

Scientists Involved

Steffen Pahl
Room NC 6/131
Tel. +49 234 32-27496
E-mail

Svenja Pachernegg
At the department until 2014
E-mail

Yvonne Münster
At the department until 20144
E-mail

Elke Muth-Köhne, Ph.D.
At the department until 2010
Currently Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology
E-mail

Illah Joshi, Ph.D.
At the department until 2008