Manfred Heckmann

Stabilized ion selectivity corrects activation drift in kalium channelrhodopsins

The paper identifies a KCR1 variant, C29D, that maintains stable potassium selectivity and provides reliable optogenetic inhibition across species and conditions.

It only takes seconds for a human monoclonal autoantibody to inhibit N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

This study shows a patient-derived monoclonal antibody rapidly inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors directly, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies using antigen-binding fragments.

Rab3 mediates cyclic AMP-dependent presynaptic plasticity and olfactory learning

This study identifies Rab3 as a mediator of cAMP-induced presynaptic plasticity and shows its necessity for olfactory learning in Drosophila.

Human NMDAR autoantibodies disrupt excitatory-inhibitory balance leading to hippocampal network hypersynchrony

This study shows that NMDAR autoantibodies disrupt the excitatory-inhibitory balance in the hippocampus, leading to network hypersynchrony and symptoms resembling schizophrenia.

Endogenous tagging of Unc-13 reveals nanocluster reorganization at active zones during presynaptic homeostatic potentiation

The paper uses endogenous tagging to study Unc-13 nanocluster reorganization during presynaptic homeostatic potentiation in Drosophila.

Ultrastructural analysis of wildtype and RIM1α knock-out active zones in a large cortical synapse

This study examines the ultrastructural changes in active zones of RIM1α knock-out mice compared to wild-type, revealing altered synaptic vesicle organization and architecture.

Channel opening duration in adult muscle nAChRs determined by activated external ACh binding site

The paper measures channel opening durations in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) by recording single-molecule currents and finds that agonist binding at specific sites determines opening durations and burst patterns.

Targeted volumetric single-molecule localization microscopy of defined presynaptic structures in brain sections

The paper develops a method for 3D-dSTORM imaging of mouse brain sections to analyze presynaptic active zones, finding differences in Bassoon cluster size and density across hippocampal regions.

Active zone compaction in presynaptic homeostatic potentiation

The paper investigates presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP) in Drosophila melanogaster, finding that AZs compact rather than enlarge, increasing protein density without changing Brp copy numbers.

Complexin cooperates with Bruchpilot to tether synaptic vesicles to the active zone cytomatrix

This study identifies Complexin as a conserved vesicular protein that interacts with Bruchpilot's C-terminus to tether synaptic vesicles to the active zone cytomatrix in Drosophila and mouse synapses.