langenhan
lab
leipzig
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science.
We study the molecular logic of adhesion GPCRs in health and disease.
We investigate molecular actors that belong to the class of adhesion-type G protein-coupled receptors. These molecules form a large group of surface receptors that constitute natural chimeras between an extracellular adhesion moiety and a transmembrane metabotropic signalling unit.
We have discovered that specific adhesion GPCRs control developmental processes such as planar cell polarity and cell migration, and have contributed to the understanding how adhesion and signalling is functionally combined within these mysterious surface receptors.
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Recently we have defined adhesion GPCRs as mechanoreceptors suggesting a novel scientific angle to study and understand their physiological profiles in a multitude of tissues and cell types including neurons, glia, muscle, vasculature and the heart.
We are also harnessing our knowledge to understand how adhesion GPCR dysfunction results in disease with focus on cancers and neuropsychiatric disorders. To this end we closely collaborate with clinician scientists and human geneticists to identify adhesion GPCR gene variants that cause human ailments.
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We study these phenomena using the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster and the the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans and employ their vast genetic, molecular biological, imaging and functional toolkits. This is complemented by in vitro and in silico approaches encompassing molecular modifications through genetic code expansion and bioorthogonal click chemistry, pharmacological and cell biological assays, super-resolution and atomic force microscopy, structural biology, and molecular dynamics simulations.
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people.
Tobias Langenhan, MD, DPhil
Beatriz Blanco-Redondo, PhD
Fernando Vieira Contreras, MSc
ALUMNI
Lena Müller
BSc Student (2018) and MSc Student (2019-2020)
Lydia Morris
Erasmus Student, Cardiff University (2017-2018)
Jennifer Gehring, PhD
Diploma (Biology) and PhD Student (2010-2014)
Robin Fischer, PhD
Diploma Student (Biology) (2010-2011)
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events.
jobs.
We are eager to take on new lab members at different stages in their career starting from lab interns, students striving for their bachelor and master projects, M.D. and Ph.D. candidates, as well as postdoctoral researchers.
If you are interested in joining our research party get in touch at
tobi ÄT langenhan-lab.org with your motivation, project ideas and transcripts.
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READY FOR A FUN AND
AMBITIOUS PHD PROJECT?
What?
Several fixed-term for 3 years PhD positions are open at the Langenhan Lab based at the University of Leipzig. The successful candidates will work at the interface between molecular pharmacology, physiology and biophysics in a project of the Rudolf Schönheimer Institute for Biochemistry.
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Scientific goal?
The projects concern the investigation of novel class of surface receptor molecules that function as mechanosensors and are markers of cancer progression.
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Central questions concern the fundamental physiological tasks, pharmacological principles and viscoelastic properties of these receptors and their expressing cells and tissues. The main objective is the determination how these receptors’ activation and signaling mechanism is implemented at the molecular and cellular scale. The projects will rest on the close collaboration between biomedical researchers, structural biologists and physicists. The experimental measurements will be facilitated by in-house theoretical and experimental support.
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The successful candidates will establish structure-function studies and pharmacological signaling assays of receptor activity, and combine those with biophysical measurements, genetic, biofinformatical and physiological assays using Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model for adhesion GPCR signaling.
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Who are you?
The candidates should have a MSc. degree in physics, material science, biology or related fields, be fluent in English and have solid background in physics or molecular biology. Experience with the investigation of biomolecules with physical methods (e.g. AFM-FS, magnetic or optical tweezers), molecular biology or Drosophila is beneficial but not mandatory.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
OR GROUP LEADER POSITION
What?
Applications are sought from strong candidates working in any area of biomedicine that complements or builds upon existing research strengths in the department. This search is open, but preference is given to those applicants with experience in neurobiology, molecular pharmacology or biochemistry holding or seeking their own post-doctoral fellowship.
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Scientific goal?
This is for you to define. We'll help and advise you to get you started,
build up your own team, procure funding and excel with your research ideas.
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Who are you?
Candidates must hold a Doctorate in a biological subject (ideally medicine, biology, bioinformatics, or biochemistry). Candidates are given the opportunity to establish their own research program, and assistance will be available to attract the necessary funding for the successful applicant.
Who are we?
The PhD students will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories, which are located at the Institute of Biochemistry and partner institutions in Leipzig. The international and interdisciplinary environment at the department provides an excellent infrastructure allowing dynamic scientific exchange across the traditional disciplines. The lab has also a central role in the German (www.adhesiongpcr.de) and international adhesion GPCR communities (www.adhesiongpcr.org) and successful candidates will gain immediate access to a young yet rapidly emerging field in biomedicine with substantial long-term career potential.
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Where?
Leipzig is a pretty sassy place to be at in Germany, of not the trendiest ... say not only we but also the New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and others.
In addition, Leipzig University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increase the proportion of women in academia. Consequently, we actively encourage applications by female colleagues. Female candidates with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered within the framework of the legal possibilities. We also welcome applications from candidates with severe disabilities. Disabled candidates with equivalent qualifications will be preferentially considered.
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How?
Please submit your application by email with the usual documents (cover letter, CV, three references,
Master’s transcript, Ph.D. certificate if applicable) to:​
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Prof. Tobias Langenhan
Faculty of Medicine
Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry
Division of General Biochemistry
Leipzig University
E: jobs ÄT langenhan-lab.org​
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publications.
Antinociceptive modulation by the adhesion-GPCR CIRL promotes mechanosensory signal discrimination
Dannhäuser S, Lux TJ, Hu C, Selcho M, Chen JT, Ehmann N, Sachidanandan, Stopp S, Pauls D, Pawlak M, Langenhan T, Soba P, Rittner HL, Kittel RJ
G12/13 is activated by acute tethered agonist exposure in the adhesion GPCR ADGRL3
Mathiasen S, Palmisano T, Perry NA, Stoveken HM, Vizurraga A, McEwen DP, Okashah N,Langenhan T, Inoue A, Lambert NA, Tall GG, Javitch JA
The concise guide to pharmacology 2019/20: G protein-coupled receptors
British Journal of Pharmacology
Alexander SPH, Christopoulos A, Davenport AP, Kelly E, Mathie A, Peters JA, Veale EL, Armstrong JF, Faccenda E, Harding SD, Pawson AJ, Sharman JL, Southan C, Davies JA; CGTP Collaborators
Implications of the Sap47 null mutation for synapsin phosphorylation, longevity, climbing proficiency and behavioural plasticity in adult Drosophila
Journal of Experimental Biology
Blanco-Redondo B#, Nuwal N, Kneitz S, Nuwal T, Halder P, Liu Y, Ehmann N, Scholz N, Mayer A, Kleber J, Kähne T, Schmitt D, Sadanandappa MK, Funk N, Albertova V, Helfrich-Förster C, Ramaswami M, Hasan G, Kittel RJ, Langenhan T, Gerber B, Buchner E#
Revisiting the classification of adhesion GPCRs
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Scholz N, Langenhan T*,#, Schöneberg T*,#
Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors - candidate metabotropic mechanosensors and novel drug targets
Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
Complexin cooperates with Bruchpilot to tether synaptic vesicles to the active zone cytomatrix
Scholz N*, Ehmann N*, Sachidanandan D, Imig C, Cooper BH, Jahn O, Reim K, Brose N, Pauli M, Heckmann M, Stigloher C, Langenhan T#, Kittel RJ#
Parallel genomic engineering of two Drosophila genes using orthogonal attB/attP sites
G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics
Blanco-Redondo B,Langenhan T
Mechano-dependent signaling by Latrophilin/CIRL quenches cAMP in proprioceptive neurons
Scholz N*, Guan C*, Nieberler M*, Grotemeyer A*, Maiellaro I, Gao S, Beck S, Pawlak M, Sauer M, Asan E, Rothemund S, Winkler J, Prömel S, Nagel G, Langenhan T#, Kittel RJ#
Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors in nervous system development and disease
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Langenhan T#, Piao X#, Monk KR#
Adhesion GPCRs as a Putative Class of Metabotropic Mechanosensors
Handbook Experimental Pharmacology
Scholz N#, Monk KR, Kittel RJ, Langenhan T#
Control of Adhesion GPCR Function Through Proteolytic Processing
Handbook Experimental Pharmacology
Nieberler M, Kittel RJ, Petrenko AG, Lin HH#, Langenhan T#
Effects of transgenic expression of botulinum toxins in Drosophila
Backhaus P, Langenhan T, Neuser K
The Adhesion GPCR Latrophilin/CIRL shapes mechanosensation
Scholz N*, Gehring J*, Guan C*, Ljaschenko D, Fischer R, Lakshmanan V, Kittel RJ#, Langenhan T#
Model organisms in G protein–coupled receptor research
Langenhan T#, Barr MM, Bruchas MR, Ewer J, Griffith LC, Maiellaro I, Taghert PH, White BH, Monk KR#
Adhesion GPCRs: From in vitro pharmacology to in vivo mechanisms
Monk K, Hamann J, Langenhan T, Nijmeijer S, Schöneberg T, Liebscher I
International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCIV. Adhesion G Protein–Coupled Receptors
Hamann J*,#, Aust G*, Araç D, Engel FB, Formstone C, Fredriksson R, Hall RA, Harty BL, Kirchhoff C, Knapp B, Krishnan A, Liebscher I, Lin HH, Martinelli DC, Monk KR, Peeters MC, Piao X, Prömel S, Schöneberg T, Schwartz TW, Singer K, Stacey M, Ushkaryov YA, Vallon M, Wolfrum U, Wright MW, Xu L, Langenhan T*, Schiöth HB*,#
Channelrhodopsin-2-XXL, a powerful optogenetic tool for low-light applications
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA
Dawydow A*, Gueta R*, Ljaschenko D, Ullrich S, Hermann M, Ehmann N, Gao S, Fiala A, Langenhan T, Nagel G#, Kittel RJ#
New functions and signaling mechanisms for the class of adhesion G protein–coupled receptors
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Liebscher I, Ackley B, Arac D, Ariestanti DM, Aust G, Bae B-I, Bista BR, Bridges JP, Duman JG, Engel FB, Giera S, Goffinet AM, Hall RA, Hamann J, Hartmann N, Lin, H-H, Liu M, Luo R, Mogha A, Monk KR, Peeters MC, Prömel S, Ressl S, Schiöth HB, Sigoillot SM, Song H, Talbot WS, Tall GG, White JP, Wolfrum U, Xu L, Piao X
Matching structure with function: the GAIN domain of Adhesion-GPCR and PKD1-like proteins
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
Prömel S†, Langenhan T†,#, Araç D†,#
Sticky Signaling — Adhesion Class G Protein–Coupled Receptors Take the Stage
Langenhan T*,#, Aust G*, Hamann J*
Dissecting signaling and functions of adhesion G protein-coupled receptors
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Araç D, Aust G, Calebiro D, Engel FB, Formstone C, Goffinet A, Hamann J, Kittel RJ, Liebscher I, Lin HH, Monk KR, Petrenko A, Piao X, Prömel S, Schiöth HB, Schwartz TW, Stacey M, Ushkaryov YA, Wobus M, Wolfrum U, Xu L, Langenhan T
Adhäsions-G-Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptoren — rätselhafte Riesen
Prömel S, Aust G, Langenhan T, Schöneberg T
The GPS motif is a molecular switch for bimodal activities of Adhesion-class G protein-coupled receptors
Prömel S, Frickenhaus M, Hughes S, Mestek L, Staunton D, Woollard A, Vakonakis I, Schöneberg T, Schnabel R, Russ AP*, Langenhan T*,#
Characterization and functional study of a cluster of four highly conserved orphan adhesion-GPCRs in mouse
Prömel S#, Waller-Evans H, Dixon J, Zahn D, Colledge WH, Doran J, Carlton MBL, Grosse J, Schöneberg T, Russ AP, Langenhan T#
Waller-Evans H, Prömel S, Langenhan T, Dixon J, Zahn D, Colledge WH, Doran J, Carlton MBL, Davies B, Aparicio SAJR, Grosse J, Russ AP
Waller-Evans H, Prömel S, Langenhan T, Dixon J, Zahn D, Colledge WH, Doran J, Carlton MBL, Davies B, Aparicio SAJR, Grosse J, Russ AP
Latrophilin signalling in tissue polarity and morphogenesis
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Presynaptic NMDARs in the hippocampus facilitate transmitter release at theta frequency
McGuinness L, Taylor C, Taylor RDT, Yau C, Langenhan T, Hart ML, Christian H, Tynan PW, Donnelly P, Emptage NJ
Latrophilin signaling links anterior-posterior tissue polarity and oriented cell divisions in the C. elegans embryo
Langenhan T, Prömel S, Mestek L, Esmaeili B, Waller-Evans H, Hennig C, Kohara Y, Avery L, Vakonakis I, Schnabel R, Russ AP
Solution structure and sugar-binding mechanism of mouse latrophilin-1 RBL: a 7TM receptor-attached lectin-like domain
Vakonakis I, Langenhan T, Prömel S, Russ A, Campbell ID
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in the olfactory system of rats and mice
Ciliary neurotrophic factor-immunoreactivity in olfactory sensory neurons
Langenhan T, Sendtner M, Holtmann B, Carroll P, Asan E
Ciliary neurotrophic factor in the olfactory bulb of rats and mice
Asan E, Langenhan T, Holtmann B, Bock H, Sendtner M, Carroll P
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contact.
Tobi Langenhan
Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry
Division of General Biochemistry. Medical Faculty. Leipzig University
Johannisallee 30. 04103 Leipzig. Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 341 97-22100
tobi ÄT langenhan-lab.org
