Martens

Research interests include neurobiology/neuroendocrinology, and cell and developmental biology, with a specific focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying the functioning of neuronal and neuroendocrine cells. Major current projects include functional studies (on proteins involved in cargo transport and acidification of the secretory pathway, and in neuronal development - axon outgrowth, synaptic plasticity - and neurodegeneration) and also concern the epigenetic basis of psychiatric disorders (changes in DNA methylation patterns). For the functional studies, stable Xenopus transgenesis with intermediate pituitary and retinal ganglion cell-specific transgene expression is used.

• Coolen MW, Van Loo KM, Van Bakel NN, Pulford DJ, Serneels L, De Strooper B, Ellenbroek BA, Cools AR, Martens GJ. Gene-dosage effect on ?-secretase component Aph-1b in a rat model for neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuron. 45:497-503, 2005.

• Serneels L, Dejaegere T, Craessaerts K, Horré K, Jorissen E, Tousseyn T, Hébert S, Coolen M, Martens G, Zwijsen A, Annaert W, Hartmann D, De Strooper B. Differential contribution of the three Aph1 proteins to g-secretase activity in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 102:1719-24, 2005. 

• Serneels L, Dejaegere T, Craessaerts K, Horré K, Jorissen E, Tousseyn T, Hébert S, Coolen M, Martens G, Zwijsen A, Annaert W, Hartmann D, De Strooper B. Reduced Aph-1b expression causes tissue- and substrate-specific changes in gamma-secretase activity in rats with a complex phenotype. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 102:1719-24, 2005.