Molecules and memory

The human brain is one of the most complex structures we know, both in terms of its morphology and in the number of genes that are active during its development and in the adult. In recent years, Ralf Dahm has worked on understanding how the local production of proteins at specific sites in nerve cells may be controlled and how this could contribute to modify the contact points between nerve cells, the synapses, during learning. He is also interested in the history of the discovery of Alzheimer’s disease.

To find out more, please see the following references:

• Zeitelhofer M, Karra D, Macchi P, Thomas S, Schwarz M, Kiebler M and Dahm R (2008): Dynamic interaction between P-bodies and transport RNPs in dendrites of mature hippocampal neurons. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 28(30), p. 7555-7562.
• Dahm R, Kiebler M and Macchi P (2007): RNA localisation in the nervous system. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, Vol.18(2), p. 216-223.
• Dahm R and Kiebler M (2005): Cell biology: silenced RNA on the move. Nature, Vol. 438, p. 432-435.