Constanze Seidenbecher

Research Group Leader of Perisynaptic Extracellular Matrix, Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology Magdeburg

My research interest is focused on synaptic proteins and molecules of the perisynaptic extracellular matrix, their dynamics and role for developmental and mature synaptic plasticity. We study e.g. the neural chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan brevican, its activity-induced secretion and cleavage and its interaction with other matrix and membrane-bound components, e.g. during epilepsy. Furthermore, we study intracellular signalling events induced via the synaptic cell adhesion molecule neuroplastin. We also use psychophysiology and functional MRI in humans to link single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes encoding matrix or synapse proteins to behavioral measures and brain activation patterns in subjects performing (re-)learning or memory tasks or other cognitive experiments. Our goal is to link changes in the composition or integrity of the perisynaptic ECM to the plastic capacity of the brain.

Keywords: perisynaptic extracellular matrix – synaptic proteins – single nucleotide polymorphisms – synaptic plasticity – homeostasis

Location: LIN

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