Harkany, Tibor

Department: Division of Molecular Neurosciences
Head: Harkany, Tibor, Univ. Prof. Dr.

Research Area:
developmental neurobiology, synaptic neurotransmission and endocrinology

Description:

Elucidating the molecular blueprint of developing organ systems has attracted intense research during the past century. Our work is dedicated towards understanding and linking critical contributions of bioactive lipids and sensor-modulated intracellular calcium signals during histogenesis, with particular emphasis on forebrain development in the nervous system, as well as the molecular regulation of the HPA stress axis and endorine pancreas.

With regards to translational significance, we are working towards characterizing i) the molecular basis of cannabis action in utero, ii) the molecualr machinery underpinning corticotropin release at the median eminence upon stressful stimuli and iii) the acquiring and maintenance of cell identity in the developing hypothalamus.

Our group performs multi-parametric research, encompassing the intense use of array technologies (RNA-seq, proteomics), electrophysiology, protein biochemistry and morphology/imaging upon experimental manipulations of  in vitro (cellular) model systems and in vivo. Critically, we correlate experimental outcomes with (neuro-)pathology data from human subjects whenever possible. Our drive towards multidisciplinarity is apparent in the combination of the unique and complementary knowledge of our group members. 

Members:

Benevento, Marco, PhD
Cinquina, Valentina , PhD
Keimpema, Erik , Dr.
Nagelreiter, Ionela, BMA
Rebernik, Patrick
Rehman, Sabah, MSc
Reinthaler, Alessa, BSc
Romanov, Roman, Dr.
Tilscher, Alexandra
Tretiakov, Evgenii, PhD
Zupancic, Maja, PhD

Selected Publications of Principle Investigator:

1. Tortoriello G, Morris CV, Alpar A, Fuzik J, Shirran SL, Calvigioni D, Keimpema E, Botting CH, Reinecke K, Herdegen T, Courtney M, Hurd YL, Harkany T (2014) Miswiring the brain: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol disrupts cortical development by inducing an SCG10/stathmin-2 degradation pathway Embo Journ, : published online 27.01.2014
2. Zhang M, Tortoriello G, Hsueh B, Tomer R, Ye L, Mitsios N, Borgius L, Grant G, Kiehn O, Watanabe M, Uhlen M, Mulder J, Deisseroth K, Harkany T, Hökfelt T (2014) Neuronal calcium-binding proteins 1/2 localize to dorsal root ganglia and excitatory spinal neurons and are regulated by nerve injury PNAS, 111 (12): E1149-E1158
3. Malenczyk K, Jazurek M, Keimpema E, Silvestri C, Janikiewicz J, Mackie K, Di Marzo V, Redowicz MJ, Harkany T, Dobrzyn A (2013) CB1 Cannabinoid Receptors Couple to Focal Adhesion Kinase to Control Insulin Release J Biol Chem, 288: 32685-32699
4. Keimpema E, Tortoriello G, Alpar A, Capsoni S, Arisi I, Calvigioni D, Hu S, Cattaneo A, Doherty P, Mackie K, Harkany T (2013) Nerve growth factor scales endocannabinoid signaling by regulating monoacylglycerol lipase turnover in developing cholinergic neurons PNAS, 110: 1935-1940