Research Topics in the Schmoranzer Group

Overview

Our lab is an interdisciplinary group focusing on the application of novel imaging technology (super resolution, TIRF, PALM-STORM, STED) on cell biological and neurobiological questions in field of membrane traffic, cytoskeleton and cell polarity. We are particularly interested in imaging the exo-/endocytic cycle in neuronal and non-neuronal cells on the molecular level using single molecule imaging and particle tracking.

We currently focus on the following topics:

1. Development of a multi-color STORM / PALM based super-resolution microscopy platform

2. Imaging the exo-/endocytic machinery of the presynaptic terminal in TIRF and super-resolution

3. Development of single particle tracking software for automated detection and analysis of exo-/endocytic events at the plasma membrane

Group members

• Jan Schmoranzer (Dr.)
• Niclas Gimber (Ph.D. student)
• Christina Kath (Ph.D. student)
• André Lampe (Ph.D. student)
• Conny Wucke (Lab assistant)

Selected Publications

• Schmoranzer, J., Fawcett, J.P., Segura, M., Vallee, R.B., Pawson, T. & Gundersen, G.G. (2009) Par3 and dynein associate to regulate local microtubule dynamics and centrosome orientation during migration. Current Biology 19,1065-1074.
• Bartolini, F., Moseley, J.B., Schmoranzer, J., Cassimeris, L., Goode, B.L. & Gundersen, G.G. (2008) The formin mDia2 stabilizes microtubules independently of its actin nucleation activity. J. Cell Biol. 181, 523-536.
• Gundersen, G.G., Wen, Y., Eng, C.H., Schmoranzer, J., Canbera-Poch, N., Morris, E.J.S., Chen, M. & Gomes, E. (2005) Regulation of microtubules by Rho GTPases in migrating cells. Novartis Found Symp. 269, 106-116.
• Wen, Y., Eng, C.H., Schmoranzer, J., Canbera-Poch, N., Morris, E.J.S., Chen, M., Wallar, B.J., Alberts, A.S. & Gundersen, G.G. (2004) EB1 and APC interact with mDia to selectively stabilize microtubules downstream of Rho and promote cell migration. Nat. Cell Biol. 6, 820-830.
• Schmoranzer, J., Kreitzer, G. & Simon, S.M. (2003) Migrating fibroblasts perform polarized and micro-tubule-dependent exocytosis towards the leading edge. J. Cell Sci. 116, 4513-4519.
• Schmoranzer, J. & Simon, S.M. (2003) Role of microtubules in transport and fusion of post-Golgi vesicles at the plasma membrane. Mol. Biol. Cell 14,1558-1569.
• Kreitzer, G., Schmoranzer, J., Gan, Y., Low, S.H., Zhang, Z., Weimbs, T., Simon, S.M. & Rodriguez-Boulan, E. (2003) Three dimensional analysis of post-Golgi carrier exocytosis in polarized epithelial cells. Nat. Cell Biol. 5,126-136.
• Lampson, M.A., Schmoranzer, J., Zeigerer, A., Simon, S.M. & McGraw, T.E. (2001) Insulin-regulated release from the endosomal recycling compartment is regulated by budding of specialized vesicles. Mol. Biol. Cell 12, 3489-3501.
• Schmoranzer, J., Goulian, M., Axelrod, D., Simon, S.M. (2000) Imaging constitutive exocytosis with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 149, 23-31