confocal laserscanning microskope including FLIM/FCS

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Neuronal outgrowth is regulated by different factors. The extracellular side, for example, is rich in receptor-active phospholipids. These phospholipids are able to bind to G-coupled receptors and thereby regulate multiple cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, and cell differentiation, and can act as repulsive or attractive factors on neurons. Phospholipids such as the lysophospholipids (LPA) are located in the brain in relevant concentrations and act on neurites. Until recently, only one LPA-modifying protein class, the lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs), was known. These proteins can regulate the LPA level on the extracellular side by LPA dephosphorylation. In 2003, we found a novel class of brain-specific LPA-modifying proteins, the plasticity-related genes (PRGs). So far, five different members have been identified and cloned. All are dynamically expressed during brain development and involved in regeneration processes by modifying LPA. Based on these findings, I am currently focusing my research on identifying the functional relevance of phospholipids in the brain and how they are controlled. Thus, we were able to identify a novel mechanism of axonal outgrowth. Furthermore, our results on the functional relevance of phospholipids suggest that they are involved in neuronal transmission processes. This mechanism has to be clarified in the future.