Johannes Nimpf

Scientific Statement

During embryonic brain development the Reelin signaling pathway orchestrates correct positioning of neurons in laminated structures of the brain. This pathway starts with binding of Reelin to two receptors ApoER2 and VLDL receptor and leads to phosphorylation of the intracellular adapter protein Dab1. This straight forward concept, however, is much more complex than originally anticipated. Reelin binding induces higher order clusters of the receptors and depending upon which receptor is present in these clusters the outcome of the signal differs. In addition, both receptors are expressed as differentially spliced and glycosylated variants in specific subsets of neurons. The main aim of our research is to describe the actual signalosome(s) formed and to characterize their specific functions.