Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences

Brose, Nils, Prof. Dr.

Professor, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences


  • Undergraduate studies in Biochemistry, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany (1981-1985)
  • MSc in Physiology with Marianne Fillenz, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (1987)
  • PhD in Biology with Reinhard Jahn, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany (1990)
  • Postdoctoral training with Stephen F. Heinemann (Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA) and Thomas C. Südhof (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA) (1991-1995)
  • Research Group Leader, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany (1995-2001)
  • Director, Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany (since 2001)



Major Research Interests
Our research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of nerve cell development and synapse formation and function in the vertebrate central nervous system. To this end, we combine biochemical, morphological, mouse genetic, physiological, and behavioral methods to elucidate the molecular basis of nerve cell differentiation, synapse formation, transmitter release, and postsynaptic transmitter sensing. In selected cases, we explore the dysfunction of corresponding biological processes in neuropsychiatric diseases. Our work in the field of nerve cell development focuses on the role of SUMOylation in cell polarity formation, cell migration, and neuritogenesis, our synaptogenesis research concentrates on synaptic cell adhesion proteins and their role in synapse formation and function, and our studies on the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release focus on components of the presynaptic active zone and their regulatory function in synaptic vesicle fusion.

Homepage Department/Research Group
https://www.mpinat.mpg.de/de/brose

ORCID: 0000-0003-0938-8534