Head: Dr. Martin Theis

The DFG Junior Research Group within the Institute of Cellular Neuroscience is working on the role of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) proteins, a family of translational regulators, in development and progression of epilepsy. CPEBs are RNA binding proteins expressed in neurons and in glial cells which control the translation of selected target mRNAs. These mRNAs encode proteins relevant for neuronal activity and its pathological manifestations, as well as proteins which define the cellular identity of astroglial cells.

Our group is also interested in the role of CPEBs in microglia. We use genetic and pharmacological approaches in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy and complement these studies with the investigation of changes in human CPEB expression and function in specimens obtained from epilepsy patients.