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



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. Ruiter, M., Kadkova, A., Scheutzow, A., Malsam, J., Söllner, T. H., Sorensen, J. B. (2019) An Electrostatic Energy Barrier for SNARE-Dependent Spontaneous and Evoked Synaptic Transmission. Cell Rep 26, 2340-2352.

  2. Meijer, M., Dörr, B., Lammertse, H.C., Blithikoti, C., van Weering, J.R., Toonen, R.F., Söllner, T.H., Verhage, M. (2018) Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Munc18-1 Inhibits Synaptic Transmission by Preventing SNARE Assembly. EMBO J 37, 300-320

  3. 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

  4. Schupp, M., Malsam, J., Ruiter, M., Scheutzow, A., Wierda, K.D., Söllner, T.H., Sørensen, J. B. (2016) Interactions Between SNAP-25 and Synaptotagmin-1 Are Involved in Vesicle Priming, Clamping Spontaneous and Stimulating Evoked Neurotransmission, J Neurosci 36, 11865-11880

  5. 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.

  6. Parisotto, D., Pfau, M., Scheutzow A., Wild, K., Mayer, M.P., Malsam, J., Sinning, I., and Söllner, T.H. (2014) An extended helical conformation in domain 3a of Munc18-1 provides a template for SNARE (Soluble N -Ethylmaleimide-sensitive Factor Attachment Protein Receptor) complex assembly. J. Biol. Chem. 289: 9639-9650.

  7. 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.

  8. Mahal, L.K., Sequeira, S.M., Gureasko, J., and Söllner, T.H. (2002) Calcium-independent stimulation of membrane fusion and SNAREpin formation by synaptotagmin I. J.Cell Biol 158: 273-282.

  9. 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.

  10. Söllner, T., Whiteheart, S.W., Brunner, M., Erdjument-Bromage, H., Geromanos, S., Tempst, P., and Rothman, J.E. (1993) SNAP receptors implicated in vesicle targeting and fusion. Nature 362:318-324.