DFG Research Training Group "TJ-Train" (GRK 2318/2)
 Tight junctions and their proteins
Molecular features and actions in health and disease

Project B1     1st period

Prof. Dr. Thomas Willnow      &    Dr. Annette Hammes

Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC),
Berlin-Buch

The endocytic receptor LRP2 serves as a central hub for dynamic cellular remodelling in neuronal stem cells and neural crest cells in the developing neural tube


Background and previous work: The low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 2 (LRP2) is a multifunctional endocytic receptor localized at the apical surface of polarized epithelia. Patients with mutations in the LRP2 gene suffer amongst other congenital anomalies from neural tube defects. LRP2 deficient mice consistently reflect disorders seen in humans. Our lab tries to understand the mechanisms underlying the neural tube closure defects caused by LRP2 loss of function.

Our recent results indicate towards a crucial role of LRP2 as a central hub in the periciliary compartment of neuroepithelial cells for establishing morphology, polarity and ultimately specification of neuronal progenitors. We showed that LRP2 functionally interacts with intracellular adaptor scaffold proteins and actin binding proteins that are involved in dynamic cell shape, apical constriction and planar cell polarity, processes that are crucial for neural tube closure. Moreover, we identified LRP2 in neural crest cells. Interestingly LRP2 deficient embryos show impaired cranial neural crest migration patterns suggesting an important role of the receptor not only in neuroepithelial cell specification but also in neural crest cell fate determination.

Hypothesis: LRP2 functionally interacts with intracellular cellular scaffolds and thereby serves as a hub to regulate single and collective cellular dynamics in polarized epithelia that involve rearrangements of the cytoskeleton and cell-cell junctions, including tight junctions.

Aims, Work Plan and Methods: At a cellular level we will try to understand the molecular and cell biological LRP2 dependent mechanisms responsible for neuroepithelial cell polarity and apical constriction, a prerequisite for proper neural tube formation. In addition, we will investigate the influence of LRP2 function on neural crest cell motility and cell fate decisions. In specific, we will address how the endocytic receptor LRP2 and its intracellular adaptor scaffold proteins affect cytoskeleton rearrangements and cell-cell connections and thereby confer neural tube formation as well as directed migration of neural crest cells.

Using mouse models and ex vivo explant cultures, we will employ various approaches based on molecular biology and imaging techniques. A strong focus will be on high and super resolution imaging to characterize details in the interaction of cellular components in neuroepithelial and neural crest cells. We are closely collaborating with project A4 (Martin Lehmann, Volker Haucke) optimizing super resolution imaging (STED) on whole mount embryos and explant cultures.

Suggested reading:  See Project-related publications, especially Refs. 1, 2, and 4

2nd cohort PhD doctoral student

Sher Min Mak

1st cohort PhD doctoral student

Izabela Kowalczyk
27.10.21: Doctoral examination scheduled

  • Mecklenburg N*, Kowalczyk I*, Witte F* (*shared first authorship), Goerne J, Laier A, Mamo TM, Gonschior H, Lehmann M, Richter M, Sporbert A, Purfuerst B, Hübner N, Hammes A (2021) Identification of novel disease relevant modulators of the SHH pathway in the developing brain. Development 48(17): (17 pages) doi: 10.1242/dev.199307 (IF 6.9)

  • Kowalczyk I, Lee C, Schuster E, Hoeren J, Trivigno V, Riedel L, Görne J, Wallingford JB, Hammes A, Feistel K (2021) Neural tube closure requires the endocytic receptor Lrp2 and its functional interaction with intracellular scaffolds. Development 148(2): dev195008. doi: 10.1242/dev.195008 (IF 6.9)  

Project-related publications

If a paper is not accessible, please mail to .

  1. Christ A, Herzog K, Willnow TE (2016) LRP2, an auxiliary receptor that controls sonic hedgehog signaling in development and disease. Dev. Dyn. 245(5): 569-579 

  2. Christ A, Christa A, Klippert J, Eule JC, Bachmann S, Wallace VA, Hammes A, Willnow TE (2015) LRP2 acts as SHH clearance receptor to protect the retinal margin from mitogenic stimuli. Dev. Cell 35: 36-48

  3. Breiderhoff T, Himmerkus N, Stuiver M, Mutig K, Will C, Meij IC, Bachmann S, Bleich M, Willnow TE, Müller D (2012) Deletion of caudin-10 (Cldn10) in the thick ascending limb impairs paracellular sodium permeability and leads to hypermagnesemia and nephrocalcinosis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109: 14241-14246

  4. Christ A, Christa A, Kur E, Lioubinski O, Bachmann S, Willnow TE, Hammes A (2012) LRP2 is an auxiliary SHH receptor required to condition the forebrain ventral midline for inductive signals. Dev. Cell 22: 268-278

  5. Willnow TE, Christ A, Hammes A (2012) Endocytic receptor-mediated control of morphogen signaling. Development 139: 4311-4319

  6. Kur E, Christa A, Veth KN, Gajera CR, Andrade-Navarro MA, Zhang J, Willer JR, Gregg RG, Abdelilah-Seyfried S, Bachmann S, Link BA, Hammes A, Willnow TE (2011) Loss of Lrp2 in zebrafish disrupts pronephric tubular clearance but not forebrain development. Dev. Dyn. 240: 1567-1577

  7. Christ A, Terryn S, Schmidt V, Christensen EI, Huska MR, Andrade-Navarro MA, Hübner N, Devuyst O, Hammes A, Willnow TE (2010) The soluble intracellular domain of megalin does not affect renal proximal tubular function in vivo. Kidney Int. 78: 473-477

  8. Gajera CR, Emich H, Lioubinski O, Christ A, Beckervordersandforth-Bonk R, Yoshikawa K, Bachmann S, Christensen EI, Götz M, Kempermann G, Peterson AS, Willnow TE, Hammes A (2010) Ependymal cells regulate BMP signaling in the adult neurogenic niche through LRP2. J. Cell. Sci. 123: 1922-1930

  9. Zhang J, Piontek J, Wolburg H, Piehl C, Liss M, Otten C, Christ A, Willnow TE, Blasig IE, Abdelilah-Seyfried S (2010) Estabilshment of a neuroepithelial barrier by claudin5a is essential for zebrafish brain ventricular lumen expansion. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107: 1425-1430

  10. Anzenberger U, Dehmel B, Bit-Avragim N, Rohr S, Willnow TE, Abdelilah-Seyfried S (2006) Elucidation of Megalin/LRP2-dependent endocytic transport processes in the larval zebrafish pronephros. J. Cell Sci. 119: 2127-2137

  11. Hammes A, Andreassen TK, Spoelgen R, Raila J, Huebner N, Schulz H, Metzger J, Schweigert F J, Luppa PB, Nykjaer A, Willnow TE (2005) Impaired development of the reproductive organs in mice lacking megalin, an endocytic receptor for steroid hormones. Cell 122: 751-762