Medical Scientist-Programm 2024

Thema: "Molecular mechanisms underlying dendritic spine recovery after ischemic stroke"

Zusammenfassung:

Regaining of neurophysiological functions in peri-infarct areas (the penumbra) and remapping
processes in functionally related cortical tissues are thought to represent important aspects
underlying recovery from stroke in human patients. However, such processes are far from being
understood at the cellular and molecular level. We have recently uncovered that ischemic stroke
causes damages in dendritic arborization in peri-infarct areas, which then are repaired by
processes of dendritic regrowth relying on the actin nucleator Cobl. We will follow our exciting
working hypothesis that also the powerful poststroke recovery process for dendritic spines in periinfarct
areas after ischemic stroke relies on the function of proteins important for actin filament
formation. In detail, we aim to uncover the role of Cobl in dendritic spine recovery after ischemic
stroke and the importance of further MCAO-regulated actin nucleation promoting factors – JMY,
Spire 2 and Cobl-like - for dendritic spines. We expect that our comprehensive studies will unravel
molecular mechanisms underlying the powerful poststroke recovery process for dendritic spines
in peri-infarct areas after ischemic stroke. Our studies will provide new insights into whether actin
nucleation promoting factors may hold some beneficial potential in neuroprotection and in
regeneration processes by structural and functional reorganizations in the brain.