https://www.walter-lab.com/all-publications-gallery daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1718967472274-PQ67HLWXJI2JC7T2P4OO/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Dr. Manon Berns Defended Her Ph.D.!! We at the Walter Lab would like to congratulate Dr. Manon Berns for an amazing defense of her Ph.D. Dissertation on the "Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission Investigated Using Mathematical Models". She has worked so hard these last few years, and it's no surprise she has achieved her Doctorate! We wish her the best to her and her future endeavors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1718967472274-PQ67HLWXJI2JC7T2P4OO/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Dr. Manon Berns Defended Her Ph.D.!! We at the Walter Lab would like to congratulate Dr. Manon Berns for an amazing defense of her Ph.D. Dissertation on the "Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission Investigated Using Mathematical Models". She has worked so hard these last few years, and it's no surprise she has achieved her Doctorate! We wish her the best to her and her future endeavors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1774275941353-KVT6ZGSPU004IRZ67ZDI/Screenshot+2026-03-23+152211.png All Publications - SNAP-25 disease variants affect synaptic transmission by destabilizing SNARE complexes within a multimeric SNARE ring Victora Amstrup Vold, Jie Yang, Maiken Østergaard, Anna Schrøder Lassen, Anna Kádková, Avinash Kumar, Alexander Matthias Walter, Yongli Zhang, Jakob Baslev Sørensen “ SNAP-25 disease variants affect synaptic transmission by destabilizing SNARE complexes within a multimeric SNARE ring Cell Reports, Volume 45, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116870 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1756281256341-KRMBFIONL5WX0Y760X9T/image-asset.png All Publications - Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation Natalie Blaum, Tina Ghelani, Torsten W. B. Götz, Keagan S. Chronister, Mercedes Bengochea, Livia Ceresnova, Christian F. Christensen, Thiago C. Moulin, Hanna Kern, Ulrich Thomas, Martin Heine, Stephan J. Sigrist, and Alexander M. Walter “Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Vol. 122 | No. 34 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2514151122 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753261567966-CMFQ87ECIFWXKXRCXXFT/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - "Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model" Ernst, A., Jusyte, M., Okunola, T., Petrov, T., Walter, A.M.#, and Winkelmann, S.# (2025) Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model Bulletin of Mathematical Biology https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-025-01486-2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753190706612-BCO9O07B8YPY9DJ5T9S6/image-asset.png All Publications - Blobby is a synaptic active zone assembly protein required for memory in Drosophila Lutzkendorf J., Matkovic-Rachid T., Liu S., Gotz T., Gao L,. Turrel O., Maglione M., Grieger M., Putignano S., Ramesh N., Ghelani T., Neumann A., Gimber N., Schmoranzer J., Stawrakakis A., Brence B., Baum D., Ludwig K., Heine M., Mielke T., Liu F., Walter A.M., Wahl M.C., and Sigrist S.J. (2025) Blobby is a synaptic active zone assembly protein required for memory in Drosophila Nat Commun 16, 271 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55382-9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1714982174133-S9SZZX1XQST2T07LS7MS/lax%2B90632_elife-90632-fig2-v1.tif.jpg All Publications - Synaptotagmin 7 docks synaptic vesicles to support facilitation and Doc2α-triggered asynchronous release eLife, March 2024 Zhenyong Wu, Grant F Kusick, Manon MM Berns, Sumana Raychaudhuri, Kie Itoh, Alexander M Walter, Edwin R Chapman, Shigeki Watanabe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753188822749-EE7KC2JV81NFUDMI5LMS/manon+paper.png All Publications - Independently engaging protein tethers of different length enhance synaptic vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane Berns, M.M.M.#, Yildiz, M., Winkelmann., S., and Walter, A.M.# (2025) Independently engaging protein tethers of different length enhance synaptic vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane J Physiolhttps://doi.org/10.1113/jp286651 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753261611730-PDLE6X8P8PW3696T90BW/X00255564.jpg All Publications - Rate-limiting recovery processes in neurotransmission under sustained stimulation Mathematical Biosciences, August 2023 Ariane Ernst, Nathalie Unger, Christof Schütte, Alexander M Walter, Stefanie Winkelmann https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1686559987163-OD53DNRJ7XFI6H9WLN9U/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Spontaneous neurotransmission at evocable synapses predicts their responsiveness to action potentials Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, March 2023 Andreas T. Grasskamp, Meida Jusyte, Anthony W. McCarthy, Torsten W. B. Götz, Susanne Ditlevsen and Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1686559517101-4PQZC7JS9GS7JK9MLL3F/Screenshot+2023-06-12+102623.png All Publications - Unc13A dynamically stabilizes vesicle priming at synaptic release sites for short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation Cell reports, June 2023 Meida Jusyte, Natalie Blaum, Mathias A. Bohme, Manon M.M. Berns, Alix E. Bonard, Abel B. Vamosi, Kavya V. Pushpalatha, Janus R.L. Kobbersmed, and Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1687955893825-078MUFXRPKO7JWVOT408/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Rate-limiting recovery processes in neurotransmission under sustained stimulation Ernst, A., Unger, N., Schütte, C., Walter, A. M., & Winkelmann, S. (2023). Rate-limiting recovery processes in neurotransmission under sustained stimulation. Mathematical biosciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mbs.2023.109023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753261647880-R9PJGK5QJT8SRARIQZI4/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Editorial: Functional and molecular insights of neural circuit adaptation, refinement, and remodeling. Walter, A.M., Uesaka, N., and Midorikawa, M. (2023) Editorial: Functional and molecular insights of neural circuit adaptation, refinement, and remodeling. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2023.1213640 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753190919256-1GZPQGC12TGXW3SC2PDV/image-asset.png All Publications - An active zone state switch concentrates and immobilizes voltage gated Ca2+ channels to promote long-term plasticity Ghelani, T., Escher, M., Thomas, U., Esch, K., Luetzkendorf, J., Depner, H., Maglione, M., Parutto, P., Gratz, S., Ryglewski, S., Walter, A.M., Holcmann, D., O’Connor Giles, K., Heine, M., and Sigrist, S. (2023) An active zone state switch concentrates and immobilizes voltage gated Ca2+ channels to promote long-term plasticity Science Advances https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ade7804 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1661427453887-IRWKV7WCZV9D5TV2XG0C/StrikingImage.png All Publications - Allosteric stabilization of calcium and phosphoinositide dual binding engages several synaptotagmins in fast exocytosis Elife, Aug. 2022 Janus RL Kobbersmed, Manon MM Berns, Susanne Ditlevsen, Jakob Balslev Sørensen, Alexander M Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489425876-SKZ7PM2U4G0GW63XX5EI/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Rapid Active Zone Remodeling Consolidates Presynaptic Potentiation Nature Communications, March 2019 Mathias A. Böhme, Anthony W. McCarthy, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Christine B. Beuschel, Pragya Goel, Meida Jusyte, Desiree Laber, Sheng Huang, Ulises Rey, Astrid G. Petzoldt, Martin Lehmann, Fabian Göttfert, Pejmun Haghighi, Stefan W. Hell, David Owald, Dion Dickman, Stephan J. Sigrist & Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1632125211905-4HHECRJ6922NKGE5GR9E/unsplash-image-Oaqk7qqNh_c.jpg All Publications - Glial Synaptobrevin mediates peripheral nerve insulation, neural metabolic supply, and is required for motor function Glia, sep 2021 Mathias A Böhme, Anthony W McCarthy, Natalie Blaum, Monika Berezeckaja , Kristina Ponimaskine, David Schwefel, Alexander M Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1586353553722-L83LXUDHKG7Y7QHHN9D1/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Live-cell lipid biochemistry reveals a role of diacylglycerol side-chain composition for cellular lipid dynamics and protein affinities PNAS, March 2020 Milena Schuhmacher, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Pavel Barahtjan, Nicolai Wagner, Benoit Lombardot, Jan S. Schuhmacher, Pia Sala, Annett Lohmann, Ian Henry, Andrej Shevchenko, Ünal Coskun, Alexander M. Walter, and André Nadler https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1586353231562-PXQH6LYFFG05RRUKMGY6/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Rapid regulation of vesicle priming explains synaptic facilitation despite heterogeneous vesicle:Ca2+ channel distances eLife, Feb 2020 Janus R. L. Kobbersmed, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Meida Jusyte, Mathias A. Böhme, Susanne Ditlevsen, Jakob Balslev Sørensen, Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489425888-L0JE3N15ALSL7YUV57GC/NatComm2019.jpg All Publications - Rapid Active Zone Remodeling Consolidates Presynaptic Potentiation Nature Communications, March 2019 Mathias A. Böhme, Anthony W. McCarthy, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Christine B. Beuschel, Pragya Goel, Meida Jusyte, Desiree Laber, Sheng Huang, Ulises Rey, Astrid G. Petzoldt, Martin Lehmann, Fabian Göttfert, Pejmun Haghighi, Stefan W. Hell, David Owald, Dion Dickman, Stephan J. Sigrist & Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578571998264-ZJ6GLEWXXP26KLEAGDTE/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Homeostatic scaling of active zone scaffolds maintains global synaptic strength Journal of Cell Biology, March 2019 Pragya Goel, Dominique Dufour Bergeron, Mathias A. Böhme, Luke Nunnelly, Martin Lehmann, Christopher Buser, Alexander M. Walter, Stephan J. Sigrist, Dion Dickman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489389817-IEC8HBN3ROTKCA5KMYAS/FEBS+Review+2018.png All Publications - Regulation of synaptic release‐site Ca2+ channel coupling as a mechanism to control release probability and short‐term plasticity FEBS Letters, July 2018 Mathias A Böhme, Andreas T Grasskamp, Alexander M Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578411670931-WWZ0TWFR2L9P6KW8YV5M/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Active Zone Scaffold Protein Ratios Tune Functional Diversity across Brain Synapses Cell Reports, May 2018 Andreas Fulterer, Till F.M. Andlauer, Anatoli Ender, Marta Maglione, Katherine Eyring, Jennifer Woitkuhn, Martin Lehmann, Tanja Matkovic-Rachid, Joerg R.P. Geiger, Alexander M. Walter, Katherine I. Nagel and Stephan J. Sigrist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489259655-YGWZO6SBMPUGSRUJJGM5/NeuSciRes2017.PNG All Publications - Vesicle release site organization at synaptic active zones Neuroscience Research, December 2017 Alexander M. Walter, Mathias A. Böhme, Stephan J. Sigrist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489151326-7JH3BCOWBGSVDUHQUT8V/eLife+2017.PNG All Publications - Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate optical uncaging potentiates exocytosis eLife, October 2017 Alexander M Walter, Rainer Müller, Bassam Tawfik, Keimpe DB Wierda, Paulo S Pinheiro, André Nadler, Anthony W McCarthy, Iwona Ziomkiewicz, Martin Kruse, Gregor Reither, Jens Rettig, Martin Lehmann, Volker Haucke, Bertil Hille, Carsten Schultz, Jakob Balslev Sørensen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489212505-RDWF4W8VKX0CQSGHJ5VF/Neuron+2017.png All Publications - Stable Positioning Of Unc13 Restricts Synaptic Vesicle Fusion To Defined Release Sites To Promote Synchronous Neurotransmission Neuron, September 2017 Suneel Reddy-Alla, Mathias A. Böhme, Eric Reynolds, Christina Beis, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Malou M. Mampell, Marta Maglione, Meida Jusyte, Ulises Rey, Husam Babikir, Anthony W. McCarthy, Christine Quentin, Tanja Matkovic, Dominique Dufour Bergeron, Zeeshan Mushtaq, Fabian Göttfert, David Owald, Thorsten Mielke, Stefan W. Hell, Stephan J. Sigrist, Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578409518618-38XBD54IQEL07A9IJ6H3/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - RIM-binding protein 2 regulates release probability by fine-tuning calcium channel localization at murine hippocampal synapses PNAS, 2016 M. Katharina Grauel, Marta Maglione, Suneel Reddy-Alla, Claudia G. Willmes, Marisa M. Brockmann, Thorsten Trimbuch, Tanja Rosenmund, Maria Pangalos, Gülçin Vardar, Alexander Stumpf, Alexander M. Walter, Benjamin R. Rost, Britta J. Eickholt, Volker Haucke, Dietmar Schmitz, Stephan J. Sigrist, and Christian Rosenmund https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489236358-K5IEJP1GQPY28VDCEZVZ/NatNeurosci2016.PNG All Publications - Active Zone Scaffolds Differentially Accumulate Unc13 Isoforms To Tune Calcium Channel-Vesicle Coupling Nature Neuroscience, August 2016 Mathias A Böhme, Christina Beis, Suneel Reddy-Alla, Eric Reynolds, Malou M Mampell, Andreas T Grasskamp, Janine Lützkendorf, Dominique Dufour Bergeron, Jan H Driller, Husam Babikir, Fabian Göttfert, Iain M Robinson, Cahir J O'Kane, Stefan W Hell, Markus C Wahl, Ulrich Stelzl, Bernhard Loll, Alexander M Walter & Stephan J Sigrist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578409807737-TBWKZDP7154XLXR6NPAF/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Identification of a Munc13-sensitive step in chromaffin cell large dense-core vesicle exocytosis eLIFE, 2015 Kwun Nok M Man, Cordelia Imig, Alexander M Walter, Paulo S Pinheiro, David R Stevens, Jens Rettig, Jakob B Sørensen, Benjamin H Cooper, Nils Brose, Sonja M Wojcik https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578410219733-EILU01CQYEVNCO1SOFY3/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Presynaptic spinophilin tunes neurexin signalling to control active zone architecture and function Nat Commun., 2015 Karzan Muhammad, Suneel Reddy-Alla, Jan H Driller, Dietmar Schreiner, Ulises Rey, Mathias A. Böhme, Christina Hollmann, Niraja Ramesh, Harald Depner, Janine Lützkendorf, Tanja Matkovic, Torsten Götz, Dominique D. Bergeron, Jan Schmoranzer, Fabian Goettfert, Mathew Holt, Markus C. Wahl, Stefan W. Hell, Peter Scheiffele, Alexander M. Walter, Bernhard Loll & Stephan J. Sigrist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578410468807-R1O68YM2W4HT7X5HI3AR/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Additive effects on the energy barrier for synaptic vesicle fusion cause supralinear effects on the vesicle fusion rate eLIFE, 2015 Sebastiaan Schotten, Marieke Meijer, Alexander Matthias Walter, Vincent Huson, Lauren Mamer, Lawrence Kalogreades, Mirelle ter Veer, Marvin Ruiter, Nils Brose, Christian Rosenmund, Jakob Balslev Sørensen, Matthijs Verhage, Lennart Niels Cornelisse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578495532141-HXFF92RDBKXAATSPC6DQ/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - The SNARE protein vti1a functions in dense-core vesicle biogenesis EMBO J., Aug 1, 2014 Alexander M Walter, Julia Kurps, Heidi de Wit, Susanne Schöning, Trine L Toft‐Bertelsen, Juliane Lauks, Iwona Ziomkiewicz, Annita N Weiss, Alexander Schulz, Gabriele Fischer von Mollard, Matthijs Verhage, Jakob B Sørensen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578573222365-FTHN7OIX7Q6E2RIUBE61/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Clathrin/AP-2 Mediate Synaptic Vesicle Reformationfrom Endosome-like Vacuoles but Are Not Essentialfor Membrane Retrieval at Central Synapses Neuron, Jun 4, 2014 Kononenko N.L., Puchkov D., Classen G.A., Walter A.M., Pechstein A., Sawade L., Kaempf N., Trimbuch T., Lorenz D., Rosenmund C., Maritzen T., Haucke V. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578573636736-I7XZDIO326NRWGSG31ZQ/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - A Presynaptic Role for the Cytomatrix Protein GIT in Synaptic Vesicle Recycling Cell Reports, Jun 12, 2014 Podufall J., Tian R., Knoche E., Puchkov D., Walter A.M., Rosa S., Quentin C., Vukoja A., Jung N., Lampe A., Wichmann C., Böhme M., Depner H., Zhang Y.Q., Schmoranzer J., Sigrist S.J., Haucke V. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578573991377-TC3UXSHOFE7AAOXO79GX/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Neurotransmission: Spontaneous and Evoked Release Filing for Divorce Current Biology, Mar 3, 2014 Walter, A.M. , Haucke, V., and Sigrist, S.J. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578574250664-PY84PXNW3OHDWPXO3E8H/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - A Sequential Vesicle Pool Model with a Single Release Sensor and a Ca2+-Dependent Priming Catalyst Effectively Explains Ca2+-Dependent Properties of Neurosecretion PLoS Comp Biol, Dec 5, 2013 Walter, A.M. , Pinheiro, P.S., Verhage, M., and Sorensen, J.B. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578574596455-KVY5MS6XLNLPP0ANOCER/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Doc2b Synchronizes Secretion from Chromaffin Cells by Stimulating Fast and Inhibiting Sustained Release J Neurosci, Oct 16, 2013 Paulo S. Pinheiro, Heidi de Wit, Alexander M. Walter, Alexander J. Groffen, Matthijs Verhage and Jakob B. Sørensen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578574857092-VJZ1NN65V420MHC8Y169/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Multiple Ca2+ sensors in secretion: teammates, competitors or autocrats? Trends Neurosci., Sep 2011 Walter A.M., Groffen A.J., Sørensen J.B., Verhage M. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578575157446-BJBX0ZCZ1CA7F6IHCE5B/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Synaptobrevin N-terminally bound to syntaxin–SNAP-25 defines the primed vesicle state in regulated exocytosis J Cell Biol, Jan 2010 Walter, A.M. , Wiederhold, K., Bruns, D., Fasshauer, D., and Sorensen, J.B. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578575511265-L6COV5I6OFXZ13HFZFBJ/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - Role of the synaptobrevin C terminus in fusion pore formation Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Oct 26, 2010 Ngatchou, A.N., Kisler, K., Fang, Q., Walter, A.M., Zhao, Y., Bruns, D., Sorensen, J.B., and Lindau, M. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578575842089-D3LOM2VHDZQLH1Q8PBI3/image-asset.jpeg All Publications - A Coiled Coil Trigger Site Is Essential for Rapid Binding of Synaptobrevin to the SNARE Acceptor Complex J Biol Chem, Jul 9, 2010 Wiederhold, K., Kloepper, T. H., Walter, A. M., Stein, A., Kienle, N., Sorensen, J. B., and Fasshauer, D. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1774276045195-RRNRX1GGJDN17YLCL801/image-asset.png All Publications - SNAP-25 disease variants affect synaptic transmission by destabilizing SNARE complexes within a multimeric SNARE ring Victora Amstrup Vold, Jie Ynag, Maiken Østergaard, Anna Schrøder Lassen, Anna Kádková, Avinash Kumar, Alexander Matthias Walter, Yongli Zhang, Jakob Baslev Sørensen https://www.walter-lab.com/about-us daily 1.0 2026-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/b6550fa6-534d-43f6-a0b2-fd32f59f7b0d/ResearchTeam_Walter.jpeg About The Lab https://www.walter-lab.com/projects daily 0.75 2020-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578315706276-W16PG93CL4RB9LJQND63/nmj.jpg Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580310162499-D045P99VFWMUGDY5Y5WE/Synapse-01.png Projects - Synaptic transmission & heterogeneity Synapses of different maturity and constitution coexist at the Drosophila NMJ, giving us the opportunity to investigate the influence of synaptic heterogeneity on neurotransmission. We use genetics, live-imaging, pharmacology and electrophysiology to do this. To find how components of the presynapse influence synaptic transmission, we investigate single proteins of interest regarding their functional domains and their control of spontaneous and action potential evoked vesicle exocytosis. Synaptic proteins like Unc13 can interact with lipids and other proteins involved in the plastic adaptation of synaptic strength. Therefore, we use mutant animals, electrophysiology and pharmacology to interfere with and measure synaptic strength. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580309359665-RFSJBCLYLF2WFHTN5DWN/Vitruvianischer_Mann%2BFly+Head.png Projects - Synaptopathies Synaptopathy is an umbrella term used for diseases affecting synaptic transmission. Our colleagues from Hacettepe University have identified patients that harbor new mutations causing inherited neurometabolic diseases putatively affecting synaptic transmission. Our aim is to find out if the candidate gene is linked to synaptopathy, and also to dissect the cellular pathways that are responsible for the abnormal function by using Drosophila as a model organism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580308840281-IS9N7C0XPWC737L2S6ZF/PHP-01.png Projects - Synaptic Plasticity Synaptic transmission is not a static process and can change over time in response to activity and external cues. This modulation of neurotransmission is referred to as Synaptic Plasticity and forms the basis of learning, memory, information processing, and sensory adaptation. Homeostatic plasticity maintains normal neurotransmission in the face of synaptic challenge. We study the presynaptic structural reorganisation of proteins and functional changes that occur as a result of postsynaptic perturbation. Short-term plasticity describes the use-dependent strengthening or weakening of neurotransmission on the timescale of milliseconds to minutes. We aim to understand the role the of presynaptic components in this process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1592907770580-72FGBB2Q3L2KYVYZGYVD/Brain.png Projects - Mathematical Modeling and Simulations Complex processes are at play to ensure proper communication between neuronal cells at the synapse. To help us understand how certain molecules direct this so that synapses can work normally, we use the power of modern computers. This is one of the main pillars of our work. Mathematical equations can be used to describe what we assume happens in the cell. Feeding these equations (the “model”) into the appropriate software allows the computer to evaluate our assumptions much faster than any human could. In a back and forth comparison between the experimental data and these simulations, we optimize certain details of the model. If our assumptions are close to reality, and if it is not overly complex, the model will make meaningful predictions which can be tested in other experiments. This feedback loop between experimental and theoretical work constitutes a powerful tool to investigate neurotransmission. https://www.walter-lab.com/featured-publications daily 0.75 2025-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1756281256341-KRMBFIONL5WX0Y760X9T/blaum+paper.png Featured Publications - Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation Natalie Blaum, Tina Ghelani, Torsten W. B. Götz, Keagan S. Chronister, Mercedes Bengochea, Livia Ceresnova, Christian F. Christensen, Thiago C. Moulin, Hanna Kern, Ulrich Thomas, Martin Heine, Stephan J. Sigrist, and Alexander M. Walter “Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Vol. 122 | No. 34 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2514151122 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753261697929-DIMZSE16GS8EFB7NHIHP/unsplash-image-4Hg8LH9Hoxc.jpg Featured Publications - "Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model" Ernst, A., Jusyte, M., Okunola, T., Petrov, T., Walter, A.M.#, and Winkelmann, S.# (2025) Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model Bulletin of Mathematical Biology https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-025-01486-2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1756281256341-KRMBFIONL5WX0Y760X9T/blaum+paper.png Featured Publications - Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation Natalie Blaum, Tina Ghelani, Torsten W. B. Götz, Keagan S. Chronister, Mercedes Bengochea, Livia Ceresnova, Christian F. Christensen, Thiago C. Moulin, Hanna Kern, Ulrich Thomas, Martin Heine, Stephan J. Sigrist, and Alexander M. Walter “Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Vol. 122 | No. 34 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2514151122 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1682931189179-UFPSRX25KRV2K18KJTAG/unsplash-image-lUaaKCUANVI.jpg Featured Publications - Spontaneous neurotransmission at evocable synapses predicts their responsiveness to action potentials Frontiers Cellular Neuroscience, March 2023 Andreas T Grasskamp , Meida Jusyte, Anthony W McCarthy, Torsten W B Götz , Susanne Ditlevsen, Alexander M Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753261698100-DR79XSB600NDFPNDRZML/image-asset.jpeg Featured Publications - "Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model" Ernst, A., Jusyte, M., Okunola, T., Petrov, T., Walter, A.M.#, and Winkelmann, S.# (2025) Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model Bulletin of Mathematical Biology https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-025-01486-2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753188822749-EE7KC2JV81NFUDMI5LMS/image-asset.png Featured Publications - Independently engaging protein tethers of different length enhance synaptic vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane Berns, M.M.M.#, Yildiz, M., Winkelmann., S., and Walter, A.M.# (2025) Independently engaging protein tethers of different length enhance synaptic vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane J Physiolhttps://doi.org/10.1113/jp286651 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753189099262-N7W1T6XDOVME7J62ELAY/lax%2B90632_elife-90632-fig2-v1.tif.jpg Featured Publications - Synaptotagmin 7 docks synaptic vesicles to support facilitation and Doc2α-triggered asynchronous release eLife, March 2024 Zhenyong Wu,Grant F Kusick, Manon MM Berns, Sumana Raychaudhuri, Kie Itoh, Alexander M Walter, Edwin R Chapman, Shigeki Watanabe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1753189234955-IUSKG7KEJ89RT7KIKULX/Screenshot%2B2023-06-12%2B102623.png Featured Publications - Unc13A dynamically stabilizes vesicle priming at synaptic release sites for short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation Cell reports, June 2023 Meida Jusyte, Natalie Blaum, Mathias A. Bohme, Manon M.M. Berns, Alix E. Bonard, Abel B. Vamosi, Kavya V. Pushpalatha, Janus R.L. Kobbersmed, and Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1576319574771-WRBZ9ZE8X1JRLUJJWXZH/NeuSciRes2017.PNG Featured Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1686559577789-5RB740ZKOP2M285OJU2D/image-asset.jpeg Featured Publications - Spontaneous neurotransmission at evocable synapses predicts their responsiveness to action potentials Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, March 2023 Andreas T. Grasskamp, Meida Jusyte, Anthony W. McCarthy, Torsten W. B. Götz, Susanne Ditlevsen and Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1661427659176-VJMVNGTGX5SWB6BB26QQ/StrikingImage.png Featured Publications - Allosteric stabilization of calcium and phosphoinositide dual binding engages several synaptotagmins in fast exocytosis Elife, aug. 2022 Janus RL Kobbersmed, Manon MM Berns, Susanne Ditlevsen, Jakob Balslev Sørensen, Alexander M Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1632125920898-C5M72QHX8H3TPK0CTK9O/unsplash-image-5cFwQ-WMcJU.jpg Featured Publications - Glial Synaptobrevin mediates peripheral nerve insulation, neural metabolic supply, and is required for motor function Glia, sep 2021 Mathias A Böhme , Anthony W McCarthy, Natalie Blaum , Monika Berezeckaja , Kristina Ponimaskine , David Schwefel, Alexander M Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1586353231562-PXQH6LYFFG05RRUKMGY6/image-asset.jpeg Featured Publications - Rapid regulation of vesicle priming explains synaptic facilitation despite heterogeneous vesicle:Ca2+ channel distances (Copy) eLife, Feb 2020 Janus R. L. Kobbersmed, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Meida Jusyte, Mathias A. Böhme, Susanne Ditlevsen, Jakob Balslev Sørensen, Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489334471-X67BELI1DQDLFKMWAQUS/NatComm2019.jpg Featured Publications - Rapid Active Zone Remodeling Consolidates Presynaptic Potentiation Nature Communications, March 2019 Mathias A. Böhme, Anthony W. McCarthy, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Christine B. Beuschel, Pragya Goel, Meida Jusyte, Desiree Laber, Sheng Huang, Ulises Rey, Astrid G. Petzoldt, Martin Lehmann, Fabian Göttfert, Pejmun Haghighi, Stefan W. Hell, David Owald, Dion Dickman, Stephan J. Sigrist & Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489212505-RDWF4W8VKX0CQSGHJ5VF/Neuron+2017.png Featured Publications - Stable Positioning Of Unc13 Restricts Synaptic Vesicle Fusion To Defined Release Sites To Promote Synchronous Neurotransmission Neuron, September 2017 Suneel Reddy-Alla, Mathias A. Böhme, Eric Reynolds, Christina Beis, Andreas T. Grasskamp, Malou M. Mampell, Marta Maglione, Meida Jusyte, Ulises Rey, Husam Babikir, Anthony W. McCarthy, Christine Quentin, Tanja Matkovic, Dominique Dufour Bergeron, Zeeshan Mushtaq, Fabian Göttfert, David Owald, Thorsten Mielke, Stefan W. Hell, Stephan J. Sigrist, Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578489236358-K5IEJP1GQPY28VDCEZVZ/NatNeurosci2016.PNG Featured Publications - Active Zone Scaffolds Differentially Accumulate Unc13 Isoforms To Tune Calcium Channel-Vesicle Coupling Nature Neuroscience, August 2016 Mathias A Böhme, Christina Beis, Suneel Reddy-Alla, Eric Reynolds, Malou M Mampell, Andreas T Grasskamp, Janine Lützkendorf, Dominique Dufour Bergeron, Jan H Driller, Husam Babikir, Fabian Göttfert, Iain M Robinson, Cahir J O'Kane, Stefan W Hell, Markus C Wahl, Ulrich Stelzl, Bernhard Loll, Alexander M Walter & Stephan J Sigrist https://www.walter-lab.com/news daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1774277976848-FNJ0MSFLKK7HN76E4KZL/DSC05595.JPG News - Lab Update: New Lab Members! We recently have had new lab members join the lab, and would like to give them a warm welcome! We welcome our: Lab Technician: Dorte Lauritsen Student Workers: André Rajoo and Maider Gonzalez Muxika Bachelors Students: Anna Linnea Müllenborn and Asger Marschall-Booth https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1774277976848-FNJ0MSFLKK7HN76E4KZL/DSC05595.JPG News - Lab Update: New Lab Members! We recently have had new lab members join the lab, and would like to give them a warm welcome! We welcome our: Lab Technician: Dorte Lauritsen Student Workers: André Rajoo and Maider Gonzalez Muxika Bachelors Students: Anna Linnea Müllenborn and Asger Marschall-Booth https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1756281256341-KRMBFIONL5WX0Y760X9T/blaum+paper.png News - New Publication! Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation (Click anywhere to open the article in a new tab) We are very excited to present our newest publication on “Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation”. In this publication we show how monoaminergic signaling and the mechanisms underlying this signaling can enhance neurotransmission within one minute and compact active zones by targeting the Unc13 protein. We would like to thank our collaborators Dr. Stephan Sigrist and Dr. Martin Heine for the their support in this publication. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1667829910293-IM5OS9AMCNLC7RTHCOO9/Picture2.png News https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1752497708694-2IGAFN09PLEDQG2DAFJU/image-asset.png News - New Publication! "Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model" (Click anywhere on this text for the article) We here would like to present our newest article in collaboration with Dr. Stefanie Winkelmann’s lab on “Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model”. This article by Ernst. et al 2025 models data from Meida et al. 2023 (our lab) to understand active zone release sites with a simplified model covering maturation, fusion, and recovery of synapses. We are always looking to collaborate and encourage collaborations, so we hope you enjoy this article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1745322218395-KE5J17ZRNNP59J6X4DS6/image-asset.jpeg News - Dr. Natalie Blaum Successfully Defended Her Ph.D. Thesis! We would like to give a huge congratulations to Dr. Natalie Blaum for successfully defending her Ph.D. Thesis! Over the past 4 years, she has worked on understanding molecular mechanisms of octopamine mediated synaptic potentiation in the Drosophila melanogaster. This is a huge achievement, and we are so very proud of you, and you did such a wonderful job in your presentation and defending your thesis! We would also like to thank the censors/opponents, Dr. Andrew Frank from the University of Iowa and Dr. David Owald from the Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin for their input, advice, and lively discussion. We all enjoyed the discussion. We would also like to thank Dr. Nanna MacAulay for also supporting Natalie throughout her thesis and for her introduction at Natalie’s defense. If you would like to see the projects Natalie worked on in her thesis we will link them below: Unc13A dynamically stabilizes vesicle priming at synaptic release sites for short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation Monoamine-induced diacylglycerol signaling rapidly accumulates Unc13 in nanoclusters for fast presynaptic potentiation Again, The Walter Lab is so very proud of Natalie, and are looking forward to what she does in the future! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1737024380672-TY67765WNHX8AEFXI9P4/image-asset.jpeg News - Welcome to Erika, a Neuroscience Academy of Denmark PhD candidate, on rotation We would like to welcome Erika Uddström to the lab as a rotational student in the NAD program! She will be learning how to utilize computational methods to understand how the synapse organizes. Welcome Erika! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1736931162261-CFPXNJDAP4DBIP3QWZP2/image-asset.png News - Manon's Paper is Published! Independently engaging protein tethers of different length enhance synaptic vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane Click here to read more! Using computational modelling, we show that proteins and protein complexes of different lengths, such as synaptotagmin-1, Munc13, and the SNARE complex, as well as their abundance at the active zone can enhance synaptic vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1730986320582-D3LTYK1XBSRMJLJ8YG1Q/image-asset.jpeg News - New Lab Members: Dr. Bengochea and Pontus! We would like to welcome Dr. Mechi Bengochea and Pontus LeBlanc to the Walter Lab! Dr. Bengochea will be setting up and working on behavioral experiments for the lab, while Pontus will be helping out with our fly husbandry, imaging experiments, and cell culture. We are very excited to have these new members so we can further study neuronal communication and plasticity in the Drosophila melanogaster model organism! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1730295874574-UJFCNJWKIDP4Q884UIC7/image-asset.jpeg News - Symposium in Synapse in Health and Disease in Copenhagen! The Walter Lab is happy to announce that we, in collaboration with the Sørensen Lab, are hosting a Symposium in Synapse in Health and Disease in Copenhagen from January 23- 25, 2025! Join us for an exciting international symposium exploring cutting-edge research in synapse biology, featuring world-renowned experts from prestigious institutes. This event will dive into key topics such as: · Molecular Studies of the Synapse · Synaptic Vesicle States · Neuromodulation · Long Range Plasticity in the Nervous System · Diseases of the Nervous System · Neuronal Cell Biology · Molecular Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release · Sensory Processing The symposium provides a platform for both leading scientists and junior researchers, including PhD students, postdocs, and students in Neuroscience and related fields, to engage and collaborate. Venue: Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen Set in the heart of Copenhagen, surrounded by the beautiful sites of this Scandinavian capital. Networking Opportunities: Reception: On the first evening, a reception will be held for all attendees to encourage networking and exchange of ideas. Poster Sessions: Present your research and engage with peers. Short Talks: Selected from submitted abstracts. Dinner: For speakers of invited speakers. This is a unique opportunity to connect with experts at the forefront of neuroscience research. We look forward to welcoming you to Copenhagen! Click here to sign up! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1721723650630-F46CP7S0BKEFEEMFVRHS/image-asset.jpeg News - Lab Outing Summer 2024 We had a wonderful lab outing canoeing north of Copenhagen!The weather was very nice while we canoed, and in classic Copenhagen fashion, it began to rain as soon as we finished, we lucked out! It was fun to watch us learn to canoe with each other and adapt to how we paddled around, a very "hygge" experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1718973337337-4966NX70Y4DQ3M10DZP9/image-asset.jpg News - Dr. Manon Berns and Simona Buccolo Defended Their Theses We at the Walter Lab would like to congratulate Dr. Manon Berns for an amazing defense of her Ph.D. Dissertation on the "Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission Investigated Using Mathematical Models". She has worked so hard these last few years, and it's no surprise she has achieved her Doctorate! We wish her the best to her and her future endeavors. We would also like to congratulate Simona Buccolo M.Sc. for successfully defending her Masters Thesis on "Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Regulating Presynaptic Homeostatic Potentiation". Congratulations to both again for their hard work and dedication! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1714983043261-TJU994LDOEX2T0HBVB5K/lax%2B90632_elife-90632-fig2-v1.tif.jpg News - Our paper on Syt7 is now available on eLife Synaptotagmin 7 docks synaptic vesicles to support facilitation and Doc2α-triggered asynchronous release Using electrophysioloygy, electro microscopy, fluoresence imaging, and mathematical modeling, we find that Doc2alpha is the major Ca2+ sensor for asynchronous release, while Sytnaptotagmin7 play a supporting role in this release via docking mechanisms Read more here! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1686559036796-CWDF60QL0CSRFP0YYW8Y/Screenshot+2023-06-12+102623.png News - Our work on Unc13A is now published in Cell reports Unc13A dynamically stabilizes vesicle priming at synaptic release sites for short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation. Using a combination of electrophysiological recordings, STED microscopy and Mathematical modelling we showed that Ca2+-Calmodulin binding to Unc13A enhances neurotransmitter release-site occupation through its subsynaptic redistribution. In this way Unc13A plays a role in short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation. Enjoy reading the work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1721724369915-ZERV4XLPKUW88EBNVBQ5/image-asset.jpeg News - Lab Outing Summer 2023 We had a wonderful time exploring the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, and enjoyed the lovely early May weather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1682930300880-8N4FG0RBHYVJ179IKXJM/image-asset.jpeg News - LundBeckFonden grant for Kavya! Kavya Vinayan Pushpalatha received a Lundbeck Foundation grant to study the molecular mechanisms of presynaptic long-term plasticity and its implications in synaptopathy. find the press release here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1682930450394-QYN92E5HBYYBLL8EBHAK/image-asset.jpeg News - New article is published in Frontiers in cellular neuroscience We proudly present our publication: Spontaneous neurotransmission at evocable synapses predicts their responsiveness to action potentials We showed that the level of spontaneous activity of an active zone is a predictor of the active zone’s responsiveness to action potential stimulation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1671529005566-C8K370FCH7WLOIAAEJRO/image-asset.png News - Alex received the ERC consolidator grant! See the deparments news article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1661427659176-VJMVNGTGX5SWB6BB26QQ/StrikingImage.png News https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1667830370220-N64XXM2BVB6BJV45NKGR/image-asset.png News - Culture night 2022 On Friday the 14th of October, people could learn everything about our research using the fruit and computational models during Copenhagen’s annual culture night. They could go through the several steps of building a model using Lego, take a closer look at flies under the microscope and learn that flies are not just annoying during a science talk. It was great sharing our research to the public. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1661427659176-VJMVNGTGX5SWB6BB26QQ/StrikingImage.png News - Our mathematical model of synaptotagmin-1 is now published in eLife We proudly present our newest publication in eLife Allosteric stabilization of calcium and phosphoinositide dual binding engages several synaptotagmins in fast exocytosis Using a mathematical model, we show that the allosteric interaction between calcium and PI(4,5)P2 binding sites of synaptotagmin-1 is crucial to explain the role syt1 has as the calcium sensor for synchronous neurotransmitter release. The model predicted that approximately three syts are active during fast exocytosis. Have fun reading it and check out our other publications! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1661429369238-EMGOV6CZ4HTQIIL8GBGO/image-asset.jpeg News - From the lab to the boat We started our summer event/Lab outing on the idyllic canals of Copenhagen, with plenty of food, drinks and good company. Afterwards we enjoyed games in the park and finished our day with an international dinner at Alex’s place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1661428134918-KAN2SVFVI1J2CQ2U55B9/MeidaandRukiye.png News - Meida and Rukiye have defended their theses We are happy to announce that our former PhD students from Berlin Meida and visiting scientist Rukiye have successfully finished their doctoral studies. Congratulations! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1661430400563-RNYTUQ9SV8MIY3LR3MO0/image-asset.jpeg News - Manon presented at DIM the brain In this talk, Manon discussed our modelling study on the calcium sensor synaptotagmin DIM the brain is a seminar series at SUND, university of Copenhagen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1632123393600-3WOX4P5AMC6TTXQFO24H/group+cph.jpg News - We moved to Copenhagen! This summer we moved to Copenhagen as a new group at the department of Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. We are looking forward to continuing our work here and to all new collaborators. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1576331350775-N9FGHLJE039ZT0MMGPCA/image.jpg News - We have a new publication in Glia Glial Synaptobrevin mediates peripheral nerve insulation, neural metabolic supply, and is required for motor function In this work, we show that glial synaptobrevin is crucial to insulate and metabolically supply neurons. Impairment of this glially expressed synaptobrevin also affects motor neuron function in the Drosophilla larvea. Have fun reading! See our publication page for more publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1592552152333-AAMCGUPUC4BNTLBF00G6/image-asset.jpeg News - Anthony & Andreas have defended their theses We are happy to announce that our former PhD students Anthony and Andreas have successfully finished their doctoral studies. Congratulations! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1578392462482-SL9Y8KKODJ0AQV36MN1W/image-asset.jpeg News - Our lab has moved to the University of Copenhagen! Following the call for Alex to become a Professor at the University of Copenhagen, the lab has now relocated from Berlin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1576327906220-VJMVPZWUCTEB2P0M14FD/image-asset.jpeg News - We have a new publication in PNAS! Resulting from a joint effort with the lab of André Nadler in Dresden, we present our newest publication in PNAS: Live-cell lipid biochemistry reveals a role of diacylglycerol side-chain composition for cellular lipid dynamics and protein affinities For this publication, we investigated lipid-protein affinities and the transbilayer dynamics of different DAG-species by combining lipid uncaging and mathematical modelling. Have fun reading it and check out our other publications! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1576327393324-JQJZWD8HIC8GCTKKTUG6/image-asset.jpeg News - We have a new paper in eLife! After a good amount of experiments and simulations, we are happy to announce our newest publication in eLife: Rapid regulation of vesicle priming explains synaptic facilitation despite heterogeneous vesicle:Ca2+ channel distances In this work, we explain how synaptic vesicles are heterogeneously distributed in regard to Calcium sources, and why synapses can only achieve the necessary facilitation when unpriming is inhibited in a Calcium-dependent manner. Have fun reading it and check out our other publications! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580311527233-M0NE8V300U3LFPW59ZWP/image-asset.jpeg News - We launched our new website! If you are reading this, you probably know. Welcome to our new site and enjoy browsing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580312372626-APNTRDSHWDPUKIAUQ8E4/image-asset.jpeg News - We have a new publication in Nature Communications! Our latest work has been published today: Rapid active zone remodeling consolidates presynaptic potentiation Here, we show how active zone components serve to regulate synaptic strength, and even short-term memory. Have fun reading it and check out our other publications! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580312608019-3O5FPHNPQCWS225ANGKG/image-asset.jpeg News - Our latest review was published in FEBS letters! In our review “Regulation of synaptic release-site Ca2+ channel coupling as a mechanism to control release probability and short-term plasticity” we discuss recent work on synaptic coupling properties. Have fun reading it and check out our other publications! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580285649701-WP8HZPFYEEG35SUTI3UT/image-asset.jpeg News - Best talk award for Mathias! At the MDC PostDoc day today, Mathias was awarded a prize for the best talk. Congratulations Mathias! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580286013198-BT1YLVF07NIEG0QA3PFE/image-asset.jpeg News - Poster prize for Andreas! At the EMBO Workshop “Exocytosis and endocytosis: From synaptic vesicles to nanodiscs“ in Tenerife, Andreas was awarded the 1st Poster prize. Congratulations Andreas! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1718973225939-XQYMDOIREBZJP3GF4EMN/Simona+and+Manon.jpg News https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1718973297864-JZ6QHMRHA5H7K5K327FO/Simona+and+Manon.jpg News https://www.walter-lab.com/preprints daily 0.75 2024-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1671529525348-KQ5JJUN4B9YRW9355D9R/image-asset.png Preprints - Release site plasticity via Unc13A regulatory domains mediates synaptic short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation BioRxiv, November 2022 Meida Jusyte, Natalie Blaum, Mathias A. Böhme, Manon M. M. Berns, Alix E. Bonard, Janus R. L. Kobbersmed, Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1671529525348-KQ5JJUN4B9YRW9355D9R/image-asset.png Preprints - Release site plasticity via Unc13A regulatory domains mediates synaptic short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation BioRxiv, November 2022 Meida Jusyte, Natalie Blaum, Mathias A. Böhme, Manon M. M. Berns, Alix E. Bonard, Janus R. L. Kobbersmed, Alexander M. Walter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1714983540399-R2ZBEUZHKMFZQ34LWBJN/image-asset.jpg Preprints - Busy research flies are working! More to come soon, but check out our other papers while you're here! https://www.walter-lab.com/the-crew daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/12ea7bec-0ca9-4c95-8438-3a691d8bf584/DSC05420.JPG Members Walter Lab, Spring 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1632123431044-PZ1HXUB3EF6PTRJRK2RS/Alex.jpg Members - Dr. Alexander M. Walter Principal Investigator Emmy-Noether-Fellow CV / Google Scholar write me an email / call me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/28290bfd-fc3c-44a7-b116-67d6a3eb2c94/IMG_1648_Kavya.jpg Members - Dr. Kavya Vinayan Pushpalatha Postdoctoral Researcher Cellular & Molecular Biology write me an email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/6a75e006-2919-4296-a1e5-0f8d9d77d814/DSC05491.jpg Members - Dr. Christian Christensen Postdoctoral Researcher Cellular & Molecular Biology and Behavior write me an email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/98aacf86-be22-4a3d-8839-9a69d59d69cc/DSC00098.JPG Members - Keagan Scott Chronister, M.Sc. Research Assistant Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, and Fly Husbandry write me an email https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/156ad76e-af0f-4c18-9963-9742878e9d5f/Vera.jpg Members - Dr. Vera Kovaleva Postdoctoral Fellow Cell Biology and Imaging https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/f922d342-0e11-4982-b4da-5127d61eae3e/Pontus.jpg Members - Pontus LeBlanc, M.Sc. Research Assistant Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, and Fly Husbandry https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/15158d58-3765-44b9-afa3-4bea51cd14a6/Maider+photo.jpg Members - Maider Gonzalez-Muxika Laboratory Assistant Fly food enthusiast https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/64dd0752-921c-4e0a-9ca4-f181a743fc4e/IMG_1321.jpg Members - Asger Marschall-Booth Bachelors Student Computational Modelling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/89b8d195-dcec-4975-b93f-9ec48f9c36e0/DSC05428.JPG Members - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/96e4493b-6bce-4c71-adb6-68a65e0184c9/Ghelani.jpg Members - Dr. Tina Ghelani Postdoctoral Researcher Single Molecule Imaging Specialist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/3be05370-6464-4bd7-909e-fcccf8fd6c6c/IMG_1595.jpg Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580301478674-IWQYMETHSBC8EK1OCT1W/TPH--22.jpg Members https://www.walter-lab.com/publications daily 0.75 2024-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1576322968304-HGADK1QRW1GR14YDJW09/image-asset.jpeg Publications https://www.walter-lab.com/methods daily 0.75 2020-08-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580307308044-RSHTT9FU4HXG6BQ02ZH6/life+cycle+TWO+ADULTS-01.png Methods - Fly genetics The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is very amenable to genetic modification. From the adult fly laying eggs to the 3rd instar larva we’re preferentially working with, it only takes 7-9 days. Using genetic toolboxes developed by other scientists, we can tag our protein of interest with fluorescent markers, or remove a protein the role of which we want to study. Since its initial use by William Castles and Thomas Hunt Morgan more than 100 years ago, Drosophila melanogaster has become one of the most heavily used model organisms to study a diverse range of biological processes including genetics, embryonic development, learning, aging, and neurobiological processes. Its initial use by Morgan redefined the theory of heredity by discovering genes and found that they are located within chromosomes. This led to the first of six Nobel prizes awarded for Drosophila research (the others were awarded for the discovery that mutations are caused by X-ray, for founding the field of evolutionary developmental biology, and for the discovery of olfactory receptors, the innate immunity and finally of the circadian rhythm). Interestingly, one convention unique to Drosophila was introduced by Morgan: the naming of genes in accordance to the phenotype their knock-down causes: the first mutation ever isolated is known as white, causing white instead of the wild type red eyes. Over the years, this convention has also led to somewhat entertaining names as “cheap-date”, naming flies that suffer from a reduced alcohol tolerance; or the opposite situation “happy hour”, naming flies that show an increased tolerance (Corl et al., 2009; Moore et al., 1998). For the research questions our lab is focused on, Drosophila is unique in its advantages. These include a relatively short generation time of about 10 days (see life cycle), an every growing genetic tool box allowing tissue- and even cell-specific expression or knock-down of genes of interest but especially a tremendous applicability to scientific methodologies (see methods section). Furthermore, 75% of all known human disease related genes have a recognizable counterpart in the Drosophila genome (Jennings, 2011) making it a perfectly suited tool to not just understand the molecular underpinnings of humans diseases, but also to study the function of these molecules in the healthy organism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580293303582-7X3RQNV1FGS1V0FYNOOS/GCaMP-1.gif Methods - Live Imaging Biological processes are best viewed in real time and with as much temporal and spatial information as possible. Therefore, we use fluorescent probes to visualize synaptic activity and protein trafficking in live dissected larvae. The fluorescent calcium indicator GCaMP has proven especially useful in this, and we use it to watch as the synapse releases its vesicles. Using this method, we measure the influence of synaptic proteins on signal transmission which helps us understand how the synapse works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1586356947104-Y2SKW6TTZZHI4VRNTBBW/image-asset.jpeg Methods - Super-resolution microscopy: STED Super-Resolution Microscopy (STED&EM) A large extent of the current understanding of biological processes comes from experiments that visualized them using various microscopic techniques including fluorescence microscopy. However, due to the Abbe diffraction limit of light conventional fluorescence microscopes are limited in their resolution to ~250 nm (approximately equal to half the wavelength of the used light beam). Nevertheless, cellular structures including synapses but especially the proteins they are composed of are far smaller, partially by more than a factor of 10. As a conventional fluorescent microscope illuminates all fluorophores within a spot at the same time, they also emit light at the same time. Therefore, two points in closer proximity than the full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) of their point spread function (PSF) will be difficult to resolve, as both PSF overlap to a certain degree. The invention of super-resolution microscopy broke the diffraction barrier within the last 20 years and opened a complete new field of science. In our lab we mainly use the super-resolution technique Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy (STED). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580291429975-8I29K2HDH15829Q6PLG5/2020_01_29+Ephys+method+only+figure-01.png Methods - Electrophysiology We use the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction as a model to investigate neurotransmission. Here motoneurons innervate muscle cells forming a large number of synaptic connections. We insert sharp glass electrodes into larval muscles and measure the electrical properties of the membrane by making use of two different techniques: Current clamp records changes in the membrane potential. Two electrode voltage clamp records the current injected to maintain a fixed holding potential of the muscle membrane. We investigate evoked neurotransmission by stimulating the presynaptic axon as well as spontaneous activity. We avail of different pharmacological agents to identify underlying mechanisms of synaptic function. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8c9ec3b7b88e4b013c2193/1580290824924-R4SQS8M3KQTKZ2QQO0QW/image-asset.jpeg Methods - Computational Biology & Mathematical Modelling Experimental Data is not always sufficient to fully understand the biological processes under investigation. Therefore, we employ computer-aided methods that help us build simulations and models of the synapse. Making assumptions about what processes are involved in a synaptic process, we formulate mathematical equations and have the computer solve them. The simulations we derive from this can then be compared to experimental data. If our simulations do not agree with the experimental data, we know that we are making the wrong assumptions and can adapt the model until we find which underlying process we are missing. https://www.walter-lab.com/404-error-custom-page daily 0.75 2020-02-01 https://www.walter-lab.com/new-page-2 daily 0.75 2024-02-27 https://www.walter-lab.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2024-08-07 https://www.walter-lab.com/new-page-3 daily 0.75 2024-08-07