Ruth Herbst, PhD
Associate Professor
Medical University of Vienna
Division of Receptor Signaling and Trafficking
Institute of Immunology
Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology
Kinderspitalgasse 15
1090 Vienna
Phone: +43 (0)1 40160 - 33276
E-Mail: ruth.herbst@meduniwien.ac.at
Research Interests
Signal transduction, cell biology, imaging, protein networks, neuromuscular junction, neuromuscular diseases, T cell development
Receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and protein trafficking at the neuromuscular junction and in immune cells
We are interested in how receptor tyrosine kinases induce intracellular signaling cascades thereby regulating crucial cellular process including cell proliferation, differentiation and survival.
In particular, we study the receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK, the key regulatory factor during the development of the neuromuscular junction. Activation of MuSK, concentration of MuSK at the junction and tyrosine phosphorylation represent the critical events during the development of the neuromuscular junction. Signal transduction events downstream of MuSK lead to pre-and postsynaptic differentiation. Our research focuses on the role of MuSK during neuromuscular junction formation.
Further, we are interested in trafficking processes such as endocytosis and recycling of surface proteins. Here we study a guanine nucleotide exchange factor designated Rin-like (Rinl), which represents a novel member of the family of RIN proteins. RIN proteins are activated by receptor tyrosine kinases like the EGF receptor and serve as guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rab5 proteins. Our current focus lies on the in vitro and in vivo characterization of Rinl in T cell development and function as well as T cell responses during inflammatory conditions.
The experimental strategies include biochemical and molecular approaches, in vitro cell culture systems and mouse molecular genetics tools.
More info can be found <here>.
