Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, Optogenetics

A major challenge in biology is to understand how cells sense and process signals from the environment. Complex signaling pathways shape physiological responses by computing the magnitude, duration and location of each stimulus. To understand signaling we therefore require a framework that generates well-controlled temporal and spatial stimulation. Our optogenetic approach is multi-disciplinary and bridges cell biology, biophysics and instrumentation development to answer long-standing questions in cellular signaling.

Our projects are (i) to develop signaling cascades that can be remote-controlled with light and (ii) to address families of fundamental problems in signaling with this unique angle. Signaling will be triggered locally (by pointing light), temporally (by turning light ON and OFF) and at different levels (by controlling light intensity) in living cells and in vivo. Local activation will test what mechanisms underlie the propagation of signals in cell membranes. Activation in temporal patterns will mimic physiological signaling and probe adaptation, memory and dynamics in prototypical cellular pathways. Collectively, we will decode how signals are orchestrated into physiological responses.

There are open positions in the Molecular and Cellular Biophysics lab!

We have several openings for post-docs and PhD students! Please send your application with your CV by email (harald@remove-this.ist.ac.at) or just contact me informally. Cell biologists, molecular biologists and physicists are particularly invited to join us but we are open to all scientific disciplines.

Contact
Harald Janovjak
Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria)
Am Campus 1
A – 3400 Klosterneuburg
Phone: +43 (0)2243 9000-4201
E-mail: harald.janovjak@ist.ac.at

CV

Publication list

Assistant
Nicole Hotzy

Phone: +43 (0)2243 9000-1032
E-mail: nicole.hotzy@remove-this.ist.ac.at

Team

  • Maurizio Morri, PhD Student
  • Alexander Kitzmann, Technical Assistant
  • Robert Riedler, Student Intern
  • Stephanie Zur Nedden, Postdoc

Selected Publications

  • Janovjak H., G. Sandoz & E.Y. Isacoff. A modern ionotropic glutamate receptor with a potassium-selectivity signature sequence. Nature Communications (2011) 2: 232.
  • Janovjak H., S. Szobota, C. Wyart, D. Trauner & E.Y. Isacoff. A light-gated, potassium-selective glutamate receptor for the optical inhibition of neuronal firing. Nature Neuroscience (2010) 18: 1027-1032.
  • Syzmcyak P. & H. Janovjak. Periodic forces trigger a complex mechanical response in ubiquitin. Journal of Molecular Biology (2009) 390: 443-456.
  • Janovjak H., K.T. Sapra, A. Kedrov & D.J. Müller. From valleys to ridges: Exploring the energy landscape of single membrane proteins. ChemPhysChem (2008) 9: 954-966.
  • Janovjak H., H. Knaus & D.J. Müller. Transmembrane helices have rough energy surfaces. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2007) 129: 246-247.
  • C.A. Bippes, A.D.L. Humphris, M. Stark, D.J. Müller & H. Janovjak. Direct measurement of single-molecule visco-elasticity in atomic force microscopy force-extension experiments. European Biophysics Journal (2006) 35: 287-292.

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