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Director of the Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology
Prof. Dr. Nikolaj Klöcker
Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology
Heinrich-Heine-University
Universitätsstraße 1
40225 Düsseldorf Nordrhein-Westfalen
Research Interest

Coding and conveying information in the brain critically relies on the function of ion channels, which are protein complexes assembled from pore-forming a-subunits and auxiliary b-subunits. The latter modulate both the biophysical properties of the ion channels and their targeting into specific membrane domains. We have developed proteomic strategies to resolve and functionally characterize the constituents of native ion channel complexes. These studies are extended to differential analyses identifying both qualitative and quantitative changes in ion channel complex composition that are causally involved in the pathogenesis of CNS disease. Identified differences may lead us to promising targets for the development of therapeutic treatment strategies.

Selected Publications
  1. Schroeter A, Wen S, Mölders A, Erlenhardt N, Stein V, Klöcker N. Depletion of the AMPAR reserve pool impairs synaptic plasticity in a model of hepatic encephalopathy. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2015 Sep;68:331-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.09.001. Epub 2015 Sep 9. PMID: 26363416 PubMed
  2. Marquard J, Otter S, Welters A, Stirban A, Fischer A, Eglinger J, Herebian D, Kletke O, Klemen MS, Stožer A, Wnendt S, Piemonti L, Köhler M, Ferrer J, Thorens B, Schliess F, Rupnik MS, Heise T, Berggren PO, Klöcker N, Meissner T, Mayatepek E, Eberhard D, Kragl M, Lammert E. Characterization of pancreatic NMDA receptors as possible drug targets for diabetes treatment. Nat Med. 2015 Apr;21(4):363-72. doi: 10.1038/nm.3822. Epub 2015 Mar 16. PMID: 25774850 PubMed
  3. Schwenk J, Harmel N, Brechet A, Zolles G, Berkefeld H, Müller CS, Bildl W, Baehrens D, Hüber B, Kulik A, Klöcker N, Schulte U, Fakler B. High-resolution proteomics unravel architecture and molecular diversity of native AMPA receptor complexes. Neuron. 2012 May 24;74(4):621-33. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.034. PMID: 22632720 PubMed
  4. Harmel N, Cokic B, Zolles G, Berkefeld H, Mauric V, Fakler B, Stein V, Klöcker N. AMPA receptors commandeer an ancient cargo exporter for use as an auxiliary subunit for signaling. PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e30681. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030681. Epub 2012 Jan 24. PMID: 22292017 PubMed
  5. Zolles G, Wenzel D, Bildl W, Schulte U, Hofmann A, Müller C S, Thumfart J, Vlachos A, Deller T, Pfeifer A, Fleischmann B K, Roeper J, Fakler B, Klöcker N (2009). Association with the auxiliary subunit PEX5R/Trip8b controls responsiveness of HCN channels to cAMP and adrenergic stimulation. Neuron 62:814-825. PubMed
  6. Schwenk J, Harmel N, Zolles G, Bildl W, Kulik A, Heimrich B, Chisaka O, Jonas P, Schulte U, Fakler B, Klöcker N (2009). Functional proteomics identify cornichon proteins as auxiliary subunits of AMPA receptors. Science 323:1313-1319. PubMed
  7. Hardel N, Harmel N, Zolles G, Fakler B, Klöcker N (2008). Recycling endosomes supply cardiac pacemaker channels for regulated surface expression. Cardiovasc. Res. 79:52-60. PubMed
  8. Zolles G, Klöcker N, Wenzel D, Weisser-Thomas J, Fleischmann B K, Roeper J, Fakler B (2006). Pacemaking by HCN channels requires interaction with phosphoinositides. Neuron 52:1027-1036. PubMed
  9. Schulte U, Thumfart J O, Klöcker N, Sailer C A, Bildl W, Biniossek M, Dehn D, Deller T, Eble S, Abbass K, Wangler T, Knaus H G, Fakler B (2006). The epilepsy-linked Lgi1 protein assembles into presynaptic Kv1 channels and inhibits inactivation by Kvbeta1. Neuron 49:697-706. PubMed
  10. Oliver D, He D Z Z, Klöcker N, Ludwig J, Schulte U, Waldegger S, Ruppersberg J P, Dallos P, Fakler B (2001). Intracellular anions as the voltage-sensor of prestin, the outer hair cell motor protein. Science 292:2340-2343. PubMed