Prof. Dr. Thomas Söllner

ThomasSöllner

Biochemie-Zentrum der Universität Heidelberg (BZH)
Im Neuenheimer Feld 328
69120 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 (6221) 54-5342
E-mail: thomas.soellner@bzh.uni-heidelberg.de


Research Area

Biochemistry


Position and Status

Professor (W3)


Scholarships and awards

2013 - 2017 - Associate Editor, The Journal of Biological Chemistry
2010 - present - Speaker of the DFG Collaborative Research Centre
SFB/TRR 83 (Bonn/Dresden/Heidelberg) “Molecular Architecture and Cellular Functions of Lipid/Protein Assemblies”
2007 - 2012 - Editorial Board Member, The Journal of Biological Chemistry
1991 - 1993 - Postdoctoral fellowship (DFG)
1991 - Ph.D. with the grade: summa cum laude



University training and degree

1987 - Diploma in Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Mentor: Prof. Dr. Rudolf Schweyen
01/1986 - 12/1986 - Diploma thesis at the Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Ludwig- Maximilians-University, Munich, supervised by Prof. Dr. Rudolf Schweyen
11/1982 - 12/1986 - Study of Biology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich
11/1980 - 10/1982 - Study of Biology at the University of Regensburg

 

Advanced academic qualifications

1991 - Ph.D. degree, Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich Mentor: Prof. Dr. Dr. Walter Neupert
01/1987 - 07/1991 - Ph.D. thesis at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig- Maximilians-University Munich, supervised by Prof. Dr. Dr. Walter Neupert

 

Postgraduate professional career

09/2005 - present - Full Professor at Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center,
Faculty of Medicine
11/2000 - 09/2005 - Associate Member, Cell Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York
08/2003 - 10/2004 - Assistant Member, Cell Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York
01/1998 - 07/2003 - Assistant Member, Cellular Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York
01/1994 - 12/1997 - Assistant Laboratory Member with Prof. Dr. James E. Rothman, Cellular Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York
08/1991 - 12/1993 - Research Fellow with Prof. Dr. James E. Rothman, Cellular Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York

Coordinating functions

2016 - 2018 - Managing Director of the BZH
2010 - present - Speaker of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 83 "Molecular Architecture and Cellular Functions of Lipid/Protein Assemblies"

Most important publications

  1. Zhang, W., Khan, A., Vitale, J., Neuner, A., Rink, K., Lüchtenborg, C., Brügger, B., Söllner, T. H. & Schiebel, E. A short perinuclear amphipathic α-helix in Apq12 promotes nuclear pore complex biogenesis. Open Biology 11, 210250 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.210250
  2. Timon, A., Jessica, C., Philipp, B., Matthew, J. B., Bernhard, D., Susanne, K., Birte, Z., Marieke, M., Robert, B. R., Matthijs, V. & Thomas, H. S. The Interaction of Munc18-1 Helix 11 and 12 with the Central Region of the VAMP2 SNARE Motif Is Essential for SNARE Templating and Synaptic Transmission. eneuro 7, ENEURO.0278-0220.2020 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0278-20.2020
  3. Ginger, L., Malsam, J., Sonnen, A. F. P., Morado, D., Scheutzow, A., Söllner, T. H. & Briggs, J. A. G. Arrangements of proteins at reconstituted synaptic vesicle fusion sites depend on membrane separation. FEBS Letters 594, 3450-3463 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/1873- 3468.13916
  4. Malsam, J., Bärfuss, S., Trimbuch, T., Zarebidaki, F., Sonnen, A. F. P., Wild, K., Scheutzow, A., Rohland, L., Mayer, M. P., Sinning, I., Briggs, J. A. G., Rosenmund, C. & Söllner, T. H. Complexin Suppresses Spontaneous Exocytosis by Capturing the Membrane-Proximal Regions of VAMP2 and SNAP25. Cell Reports 32 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107926
  5. Ruiter, M., Kádková, A., Scheutzow, A., Malsam, J., Söllner, T. H. & Sørensen, J. B. An Electrostatic Energy Barrier for SNARE-Dependent Spontaneous and Evoked Synaptic Transmission. Cell Reports 26, 2340-2352.e2345 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107926
  6. Meijer, M., Dörr, B., Lammertse, H. C. A., Blithikioti, C., van Weering, J. R. T., Toonen, R. F. G., Söllner, T. H. & Verhage, M. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Munc18-1 inhibits synaptic transmission by preventing SNARE assembly. The EMBO Journal 37, 300-320 (2018). https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.201796484

  7. Weber, P., Batoulis, H., Rink, K., Dahlhoff, S., Pinkwart, K., Söllner, T.H., Lang, T. (2017) Electrostatic Anchoring Precedes Stable Membrane Attachment of SNAP25/SNAP23 to the Plasma Membrane. eLife, DOI: 10.7554/eLife.19394

  8. Bharat, T.A.M., Malsam, J., Hagen, W.J.H., Scheutzow, A., Söllner, T.H., Briggs, J.A.G. (2014) SNAREs and regulatory proteins induce local membrane protrusions to prime docked vesicles for fast calcium‐ triggered fusion. EMBO Reports  15, 308-314 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1002/embr.201337807

  9. Malsam, J., Parisotto, D., Bharat, T.A.M., Scheutzow, A., Krause, J.M., Briggs, J.A.G., and Söllner, T.H. (2012) Complexin arrests a pool of docked vesicles for Ca2+-dependent release. EMBO J. 31: 3270-3281.  https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2012.164

  10. Fukuda, R., McNew, J.A., Weber, T., Parlati, F., Engel, T., Nickel, W., Rothman, J.E., and Söllner, T.H. (2000) Functional architecture of an intracellular membrane t-SNARE. Nature 407:198-202. https://doi.org/10.1038/35025084