Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine (Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology)
Position: Associate Professor
Location: Kinderspitalgasse 15
Phone: +43 1 40160-33276
E-Mail: ruth.herbst@meduniwien.ac.at
Research Area
Muscle, Skeletal, Neuromuscular Disorders, Neuromuscular Junction
Research Interests
Endocytosis, Signal Transduction, Synapses
Principle Investigator(s)
Interest Group(s)
Grant(s)
Abstract
Synapses are essential relay stations that confer information between cells. Synapses form between neurons or as in the case of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) between a motoneuron and a muscle fiber. The NMJ regulates every movement within our bodies including breathing and therefore is critical for survival.
Our research focuses on the complex molecular intra- and intercellular interactions initiating NMJ formation. In particular, we aim at identifying the signal transduction events and protein interactions responsible for NMJ development. Our long-term goal is to understand the temporal and spatial mechanisms that lead to the formation of a mature and functional NMJs.
Techniques
We use a broad range of molecular, biochemical and cell biology methods. To decipher molecular mechanisms, we employ conventional cell culture, primary cells and animal models. Our multi-disciplinary approach also includes proteomics, advanced imaging and virus-mediated expression in vitro and in vivo.
Selected publications
- Prömer J, Wolske S, Castets P, van Woerden G, Barresi C, O’Connor K, Herbst R (2025) MuSK is a substrate for CaMK2β but this interaction is dispensable for MuSK activation in vivo Sci Rep, 15 (1)
- Herbst R, Huijbers M, Oury J, Burden S (2024) Building, Breaking, and Repairing Neuromuscular Synapses Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med., 16 (5): a041490
- Sandner L, Alteneder M, Rica R, Woller B, Sala E, Frey T, Tosevska A, Zhu C, Madern M, Khan M, Hoffmann P, Schebesta A, Taniuchi I, Bonelli M, Schmetterer K, Iannacone M, Kuka M, Ellmeier W, Sakaguchi S, Herbst R, Boucheron N (2023) The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Rin-like controls Tfh cell differentiation via CD28 signaling J Exp Med, 220 (11)
- Kim J, Caine C, Awano T, Herbst R, Monani U (2017) Motor neuronal repletion of the NMJ organizer, Agrin, modulates the severity of the spinal muscular atrophy disease phenotype in model mice Hum Mol Genet, Epub ahead of print
| doi:10.1093/hmg/ddx124 | - Duernberger G, Camurdanoglu BZ, Tomschik M, Schutzbier M, Roitinger E, Hudecz O, Mechtler K, Herbst R. (2014) Global analysis of muscle-specific kinase signaling by quantitative phosphoproteomics. Mol Cell Proteomics, 13 (8): 1993-2003
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