Insights into the evolutionary origin of a postsynaptic scaffold

• Applicant: Dr. Pawel Burkhardt
• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 165010549

Reconstructing the origin of the post synaptic density (PSD) promises to shed light on the evolution of the first neuron-like cell types in animals, a process which is poorly understood. The PSD is an essential component of the synaptic signalling machinery and consists of both membranous and cytoplasmic proteins. The core components of the PSD are thought to be restricted to animals (phylum Metazoa) and may have contributed to the evolutionary origin of direct cell-cell contact and signaling in animals. Here I propose to study homologs of three major constituents of the PSD: Homer, Shank and PSD-95 (post synaptic density protein 95) in the closest known relatives of animals, the choanoflagellates. For this purpose the choanoflagellate Proterospongia sp., a microeukaryote having both unicellular and colonial life history stages will be used. My first major goal is to biochemically characterize the Proterospongia proteins Homer and Shank. The second goal is to localize postsynaptic proteins homologs in Proterospongia using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Finally receptors/proteins bound to the PSD-proteins PSD-95 and Homer from Proterospongia will be identified.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professorin Dr. Nicole King