About Dr. Tomasz Proszynski

The precise remodeling is critical for the functioning of synapses in the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Thus, synaptic malleability is in the center of attention of neurobiological research. Because of its simplicity, size and accessibility, the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) serves as a useful model to study the biology of synapses. Like synapses in the CNS, NMJs undergo postnatal developmental changes in which simple assemblies rearrange into morphologically complex structures. Abnormalities in NMJs’ development have been observed in numerous disorders, including congenital myasthenic syndromes. However, the machinery responsible for the remodeling of these synapses is widely unknown. We use multidisciplinary approaches to elucidate mechanisms that orchestrate the maturation of NMJs during postnatal development.

Please see also: http://en.nencki.gov.pl/laboratory-of-synaptogenesis

Selected Publications

Bernadzki KM, Rojek KO, Prószyński TJ. (2014) Podosomes in muscle cells and their role in the remodeling of neuromuscular postsynaptic machinery. Eur J Cell Biol. (in press)

Prószyński TJ. , Sanes JR. (2013) Amotl2 interacts with LL5β, localizes to podosomes and regulates postsynaptic differentiation in muscle. J Cell Sci., 126 (Pt 10) : 2225-35.

Oh HJ., Abraham LS., van Hengel J., Stove C., Prószyński TJ.., Gevaert K., Dimario JX., Sanes JR., van Roy F., Kim H. (2012) The interaction of alpha-catulin with dystrobrevin contributes to the integrity of the dystrophin complex in muscle. J. Biol. Chem., 287 (26) : 21717-28.

Prószyński TJ., Gingras J., Valdez G., Krzewski K., Sanes JR. (2009) Podosomes are present in a postsynaptic apparatus and participate in its maturation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 106 (43) : 18373-8.

Klemm RW., Ejsing CS., Surma MA., Kaiser HJ., Gerl MJ., Sampaio JL., de Robillard Q., Ferguson C., Prószyński TJ.,Shevchenko A., Simons K. (2009) Segregation of sphingolipids and sterols during formation of secretory vesicles at the trans-Golgi network. J Cell Biol., 185 (4) : 601-12.

Awards, Fellowships and Honours

2007            HFSP – Long-term fellowship
2006            EMBO – Long-term fellowship
2005            PhD award ´summa cum laude´

Technical Expertise

• Generation of conditional knockout mice
• Cell culture, including neurons and myotubes
• Immunocyto/histochemistry
• Confocal microscopy
• Generation of viral vectors
• Biochemistry: protein complex purification, co-IP, Western blot
• Mass spectrometry