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Prof. Dr. Marco Rust

Research interests

In our research, we investigate the regulatory mechanisms of neuronal actin dynamics and their importance for the development and function of the mammalian nucleus. We are particularly interested in cellular processes that are important for the formation and function of neural networks and are disturbed in human diseases (neuronal developmental disorders, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases).

In our work, we characterize changes in transgenic mice in which actin-regulating proteins are specifically eliminated in specific neuron populations or during brain development. Using primary cell cultures, we elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cellular changes and combine these analyses with physiological, histological and immunohistochemical investigations on brain sections, with biochemical and molecular biological investigations on tissue specimens and with behavioral analyses.