Florian T. Merkle

Transcriptomic and phenotypic characterization of Alzheimer's disease risk genes in neurons and astrocytes highlights shared and cell type specific cellular mechanisms

The paper uses single-cell transcriptomics and phenotypic analysis of gene knockouts in hiPSC-derived neurons and astrocytes to identify cell-type specific and shared mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease risk genes.

Prevention of Transgene Silencing During Human PluripotentStem Cell Differentiation

The paper identifies strategies to prevent transgene silencing during human pluripotent stem cell differentiation and introduces a robust vector construct.

Regional patterns of neurodegeneration in a mouse model of proteinopathy

This study maps region-specific histopathological features of scrapie-induced neurodegeneration in mouse brain regions at early and late disease stages, identifying key markers and region-specific mechanisms.

Proximity proteomics of primary cilia in human hypothalamic neurons

The paper identifies ciliary proteins in human hypothalamic neurons and finds new therapeutic targets for obesity, including LPAR1, which mediates ciliary shortening.

Cav3.1 is a leucine sensor in POMC neurons mediating appetite suppression and weight loss

Unbiased preclinical phenotyping reveals neuroprotective properties of pioglitazone

The paper uses a mouse prion model and machine learning to identify neuroprotective effects of pioglitazone in neurodegenerative disease.

A short sequence targets transmembrane proteins to primary cilia

The paper identifies a short peptide sequence that efficiently targets transmembrane proteins to primary cilia across cell types and develops an image analysis pipeline for automated cilia measurement.

GLP-1R agonists activate human hypothalamic neurons

This study investigates how GLP-1R agonists affect human hypothalamic neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells, finding they induce depolarization, increased firing, and gene expression changes.

An analogue of the Prolactin Releasing Peptide reduces obesity and promotes adult neurogenesis

This study shows that an anti-obesity neuropeptide analogue promotes adult neurogenesis and rescues neuronal survival in diet-induced obesity.

Metformin acts directly in the brain to slow features of neurodegeneration.

This study shows metformin can slow neurodegeneration features in mice, even in metabolically healthy individuals, by acting directly in the brain.

Profiling human hypothalamic neurons reveals a candidate combination drug therapy for weight loss

The paper identifies a drug combination targeting human POMC neurons to reduce food intake and body weight using hPSC-derived neurons and mouse models.

Protein-truncating variants in BSN are associated with severe adult-onset obesity, type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease

The paper identifies protein-truncating variants in BSN associated with severe adult-onset obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease, with no effect on childhood adiposity.

A reference induced pluripotent stem cell line for large-scale collaborative studies

The paper identifies and characterizes a reference iPSC line, KOLF2.1J, for standardized use in collaborative studies across multiple differentiation protocols and assays.

The Genetic Architecture of DNA Replication Timing in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

This study identifies genetic regulators of DNA replication timing in human pluripotent stem cells, revealing a histone code and combinatorial regulatory mechanisms.

Nitric oxide synthase neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus are sleep-active and contribute to regulating NREM and REM sleep and lowering body temperature.

The paper identifies NOS1 neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus as sleep-active and shows they regulate NREM and REM sleep and body temperature.

POMC neurons functional heterogeneity relies on mTORC1 signaling

The paper identifies functional heterogeneity in POMC neurons and shows that mTORC1 signaling regulates their distinct roles in feeding behavior.

Population-scale single-cell RNA-seq profiling across dopaminergic neuron differentiation

The paper uses single-cell RNA sequencing to study genetic variant effects on dopaminergic neuron differentiation from iPSCs, identifying eQTL and cell fate markers.

Biological insights from the whole genome analysis of human embryonic stem cells

This study performs whole genome sequencing of human embryonic stem cells to identify genetic variants and provides resources for cell line selection.

GenEditID: an open-access platform for the high-throughput identification of CRISPR edited cell clones

GenEditID is a platform for identifying CRISPR-edited cell clones using deep sequencing and proteomic data, enabling scalable and sensitive gene editing analysis.

Human POMC processing in vitro and in vivo revealed by quantitative peptidomics

The paper identifies β-MSH and desacetyl-MSH as major POMC-derived peptides in human hypothalamic neurons, suggesting their underappreciated role in obesity.

Rapid sensing of L-leucine by human and murine hypothalamic neurons: neurochemical and mechanistic insights

This study identifies novel Ca2+ signaling mechanisms by which hypothalamic neurons in mice and humans rapidly respond to L-leucine, showing both activation and inhibition of specific neuron types.