Berlin Brains - Die Ampel fürs Gehirn – Warum Nervenzellen Verkehrsregeln brauchen

All tasks in cells are performed by tiny molecular machines. But how do these machines get to their place of action in complex, elongated structures like nerve cells? How are the precisely balanced transport systems within the cell maintained? Disturbances in these cellular logistics are particularly suspected of triggering neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson's disease. Optobiology opens up new possibilities for investigating and specifically influencing the traffic within cells with the aid of light signals. Can cellular congestion be resolved in this way?

Professor Dr. Marina Mikhaylova and Nathalie Hertrich take us into the world of optobiology and optogenetics. They explain how light is used as a tool to understand the transport of neuronal proteins and perhaps even create detours to get cellular traffic moving again.

Speakers:

Prof. Dr. Marina Mikhaylova, Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Biology, Project Leader, Optobiology Group.
Nathalie Hertrich, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, PhD student, Optobiology Group