The Cytoskeletal Road to Neuronal Function

The cytoskeleton is a key structure of every living cell. In eukaryotes, microtubule and actin filaments are ubiquitous cytoskeletal elements which are adapted to perform a multitude of different functions.  Neurons are particularly dependent on their cytoskeleton which plays key roles spanning from neuronal differentiation and migration, through axonal trafficking and synapse formation, to neurodegeneration and cell death.

In this Workshop we will bring together scientists from a wide spectrum of disciplines that would therefore not commonly have the chance to interact closely: neurobiologists with background in cellular, developmental and systems neurobiology, as well as structural biologists and biochemists from the cytoskeleton field. Our aim is to delineate how basic molecular and structural knowledge from the cytoskeleton field can help understanding neuronal processes that take place on a larger scale, such as neuronal development and connectivity, neuronal transmission, and also neurodegeneration. We will discuss among other questions: Why do mutations in cytoskeletal components result in specific subsets of neurons dying or failing to migrate properly? How is the cytoskeleton involved in memory generation, processing and storage?

Combining our increased understanding of structural and biochemical aspects of microtubules, actin filaments and motors, with refined tools to study neuronal functions in organisms makes this an especially exciting time to bring people together. Our goal is to discuss novel ideas and form new, fruitful collaborations in a small and focussed setting. We anticipate that our Workshop will catalyse a strong interdisciplinary approach to explaining some of the key molecular processes involved in the formation of a brain, its function and how it goes wrong in diseases from dementias to psychiatric disorders.