Welcome to the Schwarz Lab!
We explore how metal-containing enzymes and synaptic proteins in the brain contribute to health and disease. One major research line focuses on molybdenum in redox metabolism: from molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis and deficiency to molybdenum enzymes in mammals and plants, function in amino acid and lipid metabolism. We use molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology and structural biology in various model systems ranging from cell culture to animal models to understand metabolic disorders and to develop novel therapies.
A second major research focus resides the molecular and cellular neuroscience of the synapse. We investigate gephyrin as the master regulator of inhibitory synapses by means of cell biology, biochemistry and structural studies using cryo-electron microscopy. Our work contributed to a new understanding of the molecular architecture at the postsynapse including mechanistic studies underlying neurological disorders (i.e. epilepsy).
You can find us here:
Zülpicher Str. 47
50674 Köln
Germany