Dr. Rolf Sprengel Department of Molecular Neurobiology ... - HBIGS

Dr. Rolf Sprengel
Department of Molecular Neurobiology
Max Planck Institut for Medical Research
69120 Heidelberg
Germany
Phone: +49-(0)6221-486 101
Fax: +49-(0)6221- 486 119
E-mail: Rolf.Sprengel@mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de
01/10/1955, Mannheim
CURRICULUM VITAE
2001- present Group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg,
Heidelberg, Germany
1997 - 2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg,
Heidelberg, Germany
1989 - 1996 Postdoctoral Fellow, ZMBH, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
1986 - 1988 Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
1985 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California San Francisco, UCSF. (DAAD Fellowship)
1984 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, (Thyssen
Fellowship)
1983 Ph.D. University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
1981 Biology Diploma, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
HONORS
1984 - 1986 Fellowship from "F. Thyssen Foundation"; Fellowship from the "Deutscher
Akademischer Austauschdienst - DAAD".
FIELDS OF INTEREST
My group is interest to visualize molecular changes that underlie learning and memory processes in the
adult brain. We use different learning paradigms in the mouse. Knockout mice, which are impaired in
different forms of learning are the basis of our studies. In the genetic background of learning impaired
mice we introduce by transgenic technologies and by virus mediated gene transfers indictor genes, which
are then used to monitor the molecular changes before, during and after the learning.
CURRENTLY FUNDED PROJECTS
Memory deficiencies coupled to selective AMPA or NMDA receptor dependent plasticity in selected
principal cell layers of the hippocampus (Sprengel). Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft; SFB636/A4
(2003-2010).
Dissecting neural plasticity in emotional learning: the function of AMPA-receptor subtypes (Sprengel and
Lüthi). Volkswagen Foundation: Dynamik und Adaptivität neuronaler Systeme; (2005-2008).
Regulation der Neurogenese in genetischen und verhaltensbiologischen Modellen für depressive
Erkrankungen bei Nagern (Gass, Sprengel) . DFG (2007-2010)
Genetics of Alcohol Addiction; SP10: Transkriptionale und posttranskriptionale Modifikation des AMPA
Rezeptor Komplexes (Sprengel) . Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (2008-2011)

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PUBLICATIONS (10 most important publications):
Wallace, D., Zum Alten Borgloh, S., Astori, S., Yang, Y., Bausen, M., Kügler, S., Palmer, A., Tsien, R.,
Sprengel, R., Kerr, J, Denk, W. and Hasan, M. T. (2008). Single-spike detection in vitro and in vivo with a
genetic Ca2+ sensor. Nature Methods 5, 797 - 804.
Humeau, Y., Reisel, D., Johnson, A. W., Borchardt, T., Jensen, V., Gebhardt, C., Bosch, V., Gass, P.,
Bannerman, D. M., Good, M. A., Hvalby, Ø., Sprengel, R. Lüthi, A. (2007). “A pathway-specific function
for different AMPA receptor subunits in amygdala long-term potentiation and fear conditioning”. J.
Neuroscience 27: 10947-10956.
Jensen, V., K.M. Kaiser, T. Borchardt, G. Adelmann, A. Rozov, N. Burnashev, C. Brix, M. Frotscher, P.
Andersen, Ø. Hvalby, B. Sakmann, P.H. Seeburg, and R. Sprengel (2003). A juvenile form of
postsynaptic hippocampal long-term potentiation in mice deficient for the AMPA receptor subunit GluR-A.
J. Physiology 553: 843-856.
Mack, V., N. Burnashev, K.M. Kaiser, A. Rozov, V. Jensen, Ø. Hvalby, P.H. Seeburg, B. Sakmann, and R.
Sprengel (2001). Conditional restoration of hippocampal synaptic potentiation in Glur-A deficient mice.
Science 292: 2501-2504.
Zamanillo, D., R. Sprengel, Ø. Hvalby, V. Jensen, N. Burnashev, A. Rozov, K.M. Kaiser, H.J. Köster, T.
Borchardt, P. Worley, J. Lubke, M. Frotscher, P.H. Kelly, B. Sommer, P. Andersen, P.H. Seeburg, and B.
Sakmann (1999). Importance of AMPA receptors for hippocampal synaptic plasticity but not for spatial
learning. Science 284: 1805-1811.
Sprengel, R., B. Suchanek, C. Amico, R. Brusa, N. Burnashev, A. Rozov, Ø. Hvalby, V. Jensen, O.
Paulsen, P. Andersen, J.J. Kim, R.F. Thompson, W. Sun, L.C. Webster, S.G. Grant, J. Eilers, A. Konnerth,
J. Li, J.O. McNamara, and P.H. Seeburg (1998). Importance of the intracellular domain of NR2 subunits
for NMDA receptor function in vivo. Cell 92: 279-289.
Brusa, R., F. Zimmermann, D.-S. Koh, D. Feldmeyer, P. Gass, P.H. Seeburg, and R. Sprengel. (1995).
Early-Onset Epilepsy and Postnatal Lethality Associated with an Editing-Deficient GluR-B Allele in Mice.
Science 270: 677-1680.
McFarland, K.C., R. Sprengel, H.S. Phillips, M. Köhler, N. Rosemblit, K. Nikolics, D.L. Segaloff, and P.H.
Seeburg (1989). Lutropin-choriogonadotropin receptor: an unusual member of the G protein-coupled
receptor family. Science 245: 494-499.
Sprengel, R., B. Reiss, and H. Schaller, Translationally coupled initiation of protein synthesis in Bacillus
subtilis. Nucleic Acids Res. 1985. 13: p. 893-909.
Sprengel, R., C. Kuhn, C. Manso, and H. Will (1984), Cloned duck hepatitis B virus DNA is infectious in
Pekin ducks. J. Virology 52: 932-937.
EXPERIENCE IN THE SUPERVISION OF DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
Since 1993 Supervision of a total of 7 completed diploma theses, 10 completed doctoral theses,
SUPERVISED DISSERTATIONS (last 5 years)
Thilo, Borchardt, PhD (2003) Die Konstruktion von Mäusen mit veränderten AMPA-Rezeptoren. University
Heidelberg
Current occupation: Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad
Nauheim
Derja Shimshek, PhD (2003) GluR-B: die wichtigste AMPA-Rezeptor-Untereinheit in der Maus. University
Heidelberg
Current occupation: Research Scientist. Novatis, Basel

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Simone Freese, PhD (2004) Doxycyclin-kontrollierte Genexpression im ROSA26-Lokus der Maus.
University Heidelberg
Current occupation: Postdoctoral Fellow, Klinikum der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, AG
Waisman, Mainz
Peixin Zhu, PhD (2006) Different genetic ways for Tetracycline controlled gene expression in the mouse.
University Heidelberg
Current occupation: Postdoctoral Fellow, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research,
Basel
Verena Bosch, PhD (2008) Genetic interference to study amygdala function in mice. University Heidelberg
Current occupation: Research consultant, Scope International, Mannheim