The role of dysregulated protein synthesis in neuropsychiatric/neurodevelopmental disorders. Contact type Person First name Konstanze Surname Simbriger Role PhD Student - Gkogkas Lab Organisation 1 Hugh Robson Building Organisation 2 15 George Square Organisation 3 Edinburgh, EH8 9XD Work phone +44 (0)131 651 1695 Email K.Simbriger@sms.ed.ac.uk Personal Profile 2009-2011 Undergraduate Degree in Biology, Leopold Franzens Universität Innsbruck, Austria 2012-2014 IST Austria, Maria Gugging, Austria 2014-2015 Master in Integrative Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, UK 2015-present PhD Biomedical Sciences (Integrative Physiology), The University of Edinburgh, UK Research In the lab, we study the role of dysregulated protein synthesis in neuropsychiatric/neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fragile X syndrome (FXS), and intellectual disability (ID). FXS is caused by the loss of expression of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA binding protein that regulates both the transport and translation of a subset of mRNAs, particularly important processes in neurons. Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a protease that cleaves various substrates in the ECM and has been postulated to remodel synaptic connections. Furthermore, MMP-9 may cleave molecules that then can bind cell surface receptors and activate signalling pathways inside cells (e.g. integrin signalling). I study the role of MMP-9 at synapses and in the context of FXS/ASD. Recent Publications Amorim I., Kedia S., Kouloulia S., Simbriger K., Gantois I., Jafarnejad S., Li Y., Kampaite A., Pooters T., Romanò N., Gkogkas C.G. Loss of eIF4E phosphorylation engenders depression-like behaviors via selective mRNA translation. The Journal of Neuroscience: The official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, Jan 2018 This article was published on 2022-10-17
Contact type Person First name Konstanze Surname Simbriger Role PhD Student - Gkogkas Lab Organisation 1 Hugh Robson Building Organisation 2 15 George Square Organisation 3 Edinburgh, EH8 9XD Work phone +44 (0)131 651 1695 Email K.Simbriger@sms.ed.ac.uk