Leibniz-Group Dendritic Organelles & Synaptic Function

Our laboratory investigates how microsecretory systems and organelles like amphisomes, autophagosomes, lysosomes and Golgi satellites in neurites are involved in synaptic function.

The morphological complexity of neurons poses a significant challenge for neuronal protein transport since the machineries for protein synthesis and degradation are mainly localized in the cell soma. In response to this unique challenge, local micro-secretory systems have evolved and we discovered non-canonical functions of such organelles for synaptic signaling.