The Research Group Neuronal Protein Transport was established 2015 at the Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH) under the direction of Dr. Marina Mikhaylova.

Since June 2020 Marina Mikhaylova is Professor of Optobiology at the IfB at the Humboldt University of Berlin.

Neuronal synapses form the basis for neuronal communication and the storage of information in brain. The strength and persistence of chemical synapses are tightly regulated and the plastic properties of neighbored dendritic synapses are also determined by molecular and electrical signaling in dendritic segments. Potentiation of a dendritic spine favors the potentiation of its neighbor. In this regard, the dendritic branch forms a perfect compartment for confined signaling. The overall aim of our lab is to understand what defines a dendritic segment as a "plasticity unit" and what are the underlying molecular mechanisms of heterosynaptic plasticity. We take a multidisciplinary approach by combining electrophysiology with advanced imaging techniques and biochemical/molecular biological methods to tackle two main questions: 1. How are synaptic proteins involved in interactions between nearby synapses and how do they contribute to the establishment of clustered synaptic plasticity within a dendritic branch? 2. What is the role of dendritic secretory trafficking organelles like ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), the dendritic Golgi satellite system, retromer and endosomal systems in establishment and maintenance of dendritic compartments? In this respect understanding how the interplay between motor proteins allows for controlled cargo delivery, retention or release in response to synaptic activity in dendritic branch compartments might be of key importance.