Name: Dietmar Schmucker

Research Description:

The complexity of brain wiring and connectivity remains one of the biggest mysteries in biology, and is of broad medical interest.

Research at the Neuronal Wiring Lab is focused on studying the molecular mechanisms of neuronal wiring and the specificity of molecular recognition processes mediated by membrane receptors. My lab has been using a combination of genetic, molecular, biochemical and structural methods to address the question of membrane receptor diversity and specificity. In particular, we have been studying how alternative splicing contributes to increasing protein diversity and how this is utilized for fine-tuning of axon guidance, axon/dendrite branching, and synaptic target choice within the Central Nervous System (CNS). Furthermore, we are comparing the molecular basis of recognition specificity of Ig-receptors in neuronal wiring, as well as immune responses.

Two future research goals are of particular interest 
The group will expand their work on the wiring of the fly (Drosophila) nervous system and on mechanistically dissecting Dscam function and specificity. As a second goal, they will investigate how some of the molecular models can be extended to study the molecular diversity of neuronal receptors and the control of circuitry formation in the vertebrate nervous systems, using the new genetic model system Xenopus tropicalis.

Lab Memberships

VIB3-CTG (Principal Investigator/Director)

Contact Information

Email: dietmar.schmucker@kuleuven.vib.be
Web Page: http://www.vib.be/en/research/scientists/Pages/Dietmar-Schmucker-Lab.aspx
Phone:  +32 16 37 32 22