Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Klein

About project A01(completed 12/2013)

Project title: Mechanisms of Eph/ephrin signaling in thalamocortical axon guidance and synaptogenesis

Summary: The project was very successful and resulted in three publications. For instance, it provided genetic evidence for a role of EphA:ephrinA attractive reverse signaling in motor axon guidance and the first in vivo demonstration that forward Eph and reverse ephrin signaling can function in parallel in the same neuronal population (Dudanova et al., 2012). They also investigated the functional outcomes of ephrin binding to Eph receptors (Ephs) at the molecular level and now suggest a mechanism by which distinctive ectodomain surfaces determine clustering, and thereby signaling, properties (Seiradake et al. 2013). Finally they discovered that sensory axon growth and branching during embryonic development is controlled by protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O (PTPRO) (Gatto et al., 2013). Nevertheless, the lab of Rüdiger Klein, who is now a member of a generously funded ERC Synergy Grant, shifted its scientific attention to neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore Prof. Klein decided to not apply for a project in this - but may again in the next - funding period.