Göttinger Graduiertenzentrum für Neurowissenschaften, Biophysik und Molekulare Biowissenschaften

Heinrich, Ralf, Prof. Dr.

Department of Cellular Neurobiology


  • 1995 Dr. rer. nat., University of Göttingen
  • 1997-1999 Postdoctoral fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
  • 2004 Habilitation, Zoology
  • 2002-2008 Junior professor for Molecular Neuropharmacology of Behavior, Göttingen
  • since 2008 apl Professor, Dept. of Cellular Neurobiology




Major Research Interests

Vertebrates and invertebrates evolved from common ancestors that already possessed neurons, neurosecretory systems and structured central nervous systems. Though nervous systems of invertebrates are typically less complex than those of vertebrates (especially mammals) they share many molecular and functional characteristics. We study the neural basis of insect behaviors and mechanisms underlying neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in insect nervous systems and mammalian cell lines with an evolutionary perspective.
1) Cytokine receptor-like factor 3 (CRLF3) is present in all eumetazoan taxa from cnidarians to mammals including humans. Activation of human and insect CRLF3 by human erythropoietin activates anti-apoptotic and pro-regenerative cellular mechanisms, indicating that CRLF3 is an ancient and conserved cell-protective receptor that adapts cells and tissues to (patho-)physiological challenges. We study CRLF3-initiated anti-apoptotic mechanisms, identify its ligand profiles in insects and mammals and explore the evolution of cell-protective cytokine type I receptors.
2) Apoptosis plays a major role in development, tissue renewal and the progression of degenerative diseases. Similar molecular players and mechanisms in vertebrates and invertebrates indicated that the complex "mammalian-like" apoptosis regulatory network was already present in early metazoans. Our recent studies identified the pro-apoptotic function of insect acetylcholinesterase as another shared characteristic between vertebrate and insect apoptosis. Actual studies on insect neurons and mammalian cell lines investigate erythropoietin- and/or CRLF3- initiated intracellular pathways that prevent pro-apoptotic acetylcholinesterase activation under apoptogenic conditions.
3) Social behavior is the product of complex interactions between various types of neurons that integrate external sensory information with internal physiological states. We study the regulation of social behaviors by synaptic molecules (e.g. neuroligins, transmitters) and the neurochemical mechanisms of motivational states with a combination of neuroethological, pharmacological, electrophysiological, histochemical and immunocytochemical methods. Most studies focus on sex-specific mating and aggressive behaviors of acoustically communicating grasshoppers and fruit flies.




Homepage Department/Research Group

https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/663747.html



Selected Recent Publications


  • Knorr DY, Rodriguez Polo I, Pies HS, Schwedhelm-Domeyer N, Pauls S, Behr R, Heinrich R; The cytokine receptor CRLF3 is a human neuroprotective EV-3 (Epo) receptor. Frontiers in Molecular Neurobiology 16: 1154509, (2023)
  • Knorr DY, Demirbas D, Heinrich R.; Multifaceted promotion of apoptosis by acetylcholinesterase. Frontiers in Cell Death 2: 1169966, (2023)
  • Knorr DY, Schneider K, Büschgens L, Förster J, Georges NS, Geurten BRH, Heinrich R.; Protection of insect neurons by erythropoietin/CRLF3-mediated regulation of pro-apoptotic acetylcholinesterase. Scientific Reports 12:18565, (2022)
  • Knorr DY, Georges NS, Pauls S, Heinrich R. Acetylcholinesterase promotes apoptosis in insect neurons. Apoptosis, (2020) (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10495-020-01630-4)
  • Hahn N, Büschgens L, Schwedhelm-Domeyer N, Bank S, Geurten BRH, Neugebauer P, Massih B, Göpfert MC, Heinrich R.; The orphan cytokine receptor CRLF3 emerged with the origin of the nervous system and is a neuroprotective erythropoietin receptor in locusts. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 12: 251, (2019)
  • Ostrowski D, Heinrich R.; Alternative erythropoietin receptors in the nervous system. Journal of Clinical Medicine 7 (2): 24, (2018)
  • Hahn N, Knorr DY, Liebig J, Wüstefeld L, Peters K, Büscher M, Bucher G, Ehrenreich H, Heinrich R.; The insect orthologue of the human orphan cytokine receptor CRLF3 is a neuroprotective erythropoietin receptor in insects. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 10: 223, (2017)
  • Miljus N, Massih B, Weis MA, Rison JV, Bonnas CB, Sillaber I, Ehrenreich H, Geurten BRH, Heinrich R; Neuroprotection and endocytosis: erythropoietin receptors in insect nervous systems. Journal of Neurochemistry 141: 63-74, (2017)
  • Hahn N, Geurten B, Gurvich A, Piepenbrock D, Kästner A, Zanini, D, Xing G, Xie W, Göpfert MC, Ehrenreich H, Heinrich R.; Monogenic heritable autism gene neuroligin impacts Drosophila social behaviour. Behavioural Brain Research 252: 450-457, (2013)