Natascha Schaefer
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View article: Integration of customizable 3D printed mixing printheads for controlled and tuneable material and stiffness gradient fabrication with high cell viability in extrusion-based bioprinting
Integration of customizable 3D printed mixing printheads for controlled and tuneable material and stiffness gradient fabrication with high cell viability in extrusion-based bioprinting Open
The fabrication of native tissue-like structures with gradual transitions in material properties, cell types and growth factors remains a major challenge in biofabrication. Particularly the complex hierarchical organization, present in liv…
View article: Breast Tumor Cell Survival and Morphology in a Brain‐like Extracellular Matrix Depends on Matrix Composition and Mechanical Properties
Breast Tumor Cell Survival and Morphology in a Brain‐like Extracellular Matrix Depends on Matrix Composition and Mechanical Properties Open
Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most invasive type of breast cancer with high risk of brain metastasis. To better understand interactions between breast tumors with the brain extracellular matrix (ECM), a 3D cell culture model …
View article: Advanced optical assessment and modeling of extrusion bioprinting
Advanced optical assessment and modeling of extrusion bioprinting Open
In the context of tissue engineering, biofabrication techniques are employed to process cells in hydrogel-based matrices, known as bioinks, into complex 3D structures. The aim is the production of functional tissue models or even entire or…
View article: Streamlining the highly reproducible fabrication of fibrous biomedical specimens towards standardization and high throughput
Streamlining the highly reproducible fabrication of fibrous biomedical specimens towards standardization and high throughput Open
Nano- and micro-fiber-based scaffolds bear enormous potential for their use in cell culture and tissue engineering, since they mimic natural collagen structures and may thus serve as biomimetic adhesive substrates. They have, however, so f…
View article: Glycine Receptor β–Targeting Autoantibodies Contribute to the Pathology of Autoimmune Diseases
Glycine Receptor β–Targeting Autoantibodies Contribute to the Pathology of Autoimmune Diseases Open
Our study establishes GlyRβ as novel target of aAb in patients with SPS/PERM. In contrast to exclusively GlyRα1-positive sera, which alter glycine potency, aAbs against GlyRβ impair receptor efficacy for the neurotransmitter glycine. Imagi…
View article: Role of the Glycine Receptor β Subunit in Synaptic Localization and Pathogenicity in Severe Startle Disease
Role of the Glycine Receptor β Subunit in Synaptic Localization and Pathogenicity in Severe Startle Disease Open
Startle disease is due to the disruption of recurrent inhibition in the spinal cord. Most common causes are genetic variants in genes ( GLRA1 , GLRB ) encoding inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) subunits. The adult GlyR is a heteropentamer…
View article: Dual Role of Dysfunctional Asc-1 Transporter in Distinct Human Pathologies, Human Startle Disease, and Developmental Delay
Dual Role of Dysfunctional Asc-1 Transporter in Distinct Human Pathologies, Human Startle Disease, and Developmental Delay Open
Human startle disease is associated with mutations in distinct genes encoding glycine receptors, transporters or interacting proteins at glycinergic synapses in spinal cord and brainstem. However, a significant number of diagnosed patients…
View article: The beer component hordenine inhibits alcohol addiction‐associated behaviours in mice
The beer component hordenine inhibits alcohol addiction‐associated behaviours in mice Open
Alcohol consumption is a widespread behaviour that may eventually result in the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol, however, is rarely consumed in pure form but in fruit‐ or corn‐derived preparations, like beer. These prepa…
View article: Rheological and Biological Impact of Printable PCL‐Fibers as Reinforcing Fillers in Cell‐Laden Spider‐Silk Bio‐Inks
Rheological and Biological Impact of Printable PCL‐Fibers as Reinforcing Fillers in Cell‐Laden Spider‐Silk Bio‐Inks Open
The development of bio‐inks capable of being 3D‐printed into cell‐containing bio‐fabricates with sufficient shape fidelity is highly demanding. Structural integrity and favorable mechanical properties can be achieved by applying high polym…
View article: Startle Disease: New Molecular Insights into an Old Neurological Disorder
Startle Disease: New Molecular Insights into an Old Neurological Disorder Open
Startle disease (SD) is characterized by enhanced startle responses, generalized muscle stiffness, unexpected falling, and fatal apnea episodes due to disturbed feedback inhibition in the spinal cord and brainstem of affected individuals. …
View article: Activin A Reduces GIRK Current to Excite Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells
Activin A Reduces GIRK Current to Excite Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells Open
Activin A, a member of the TGF-β family, is recognized as a multifunctional protein in the adult brain with a particular impact on neuronal circuits associated with cognitive and affective functions. Activin receptor signaling in mouse hip…
View article: Loss, Gain and Altered Function of GlyR α2 Subunit Mutations in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Loss, Gain and Altered Function of GlyR α2 Subunit Mutations in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Open
Glycine receptors (GlyRs) containing the α2 subunit govern cell fate, neuronal migration and synaptogenesis in the developing cortex and spinal cord. Rare missense variants and microdeletions in the X-linked GlyR α2 subunit gene ( GLRA2 ) …
View article: Identification of a stereotypic molecular arrangement of endogenous glycine receptors at spinal cord synapses
Identification of a stereotypic molecular arrangement of endogenous glycine receptors at spinal cord synapses Open
Precise quantitative information about the molecular architecture of synapses is essential to understanding the functional specificity and downstream signaling processes at specific populations of synapses. Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are th…
View article: Author response: Identification of a stereotypic molecular arrangement of endogenous glycine receptors at spinal cord synapses
Author response: Identification of a stereotypic molecular arrangement of endogenous glycine receptors at spinal cord synapses Open
Article Figures and data Abstract Editor's evaluation Introduction Results Discussion Materials and methods Data availability References Decision letter Author response Article and author information Metrics Abstract Precise quantitative i…
View article: Spinal Cord Neuronal Network Formation in a 3D Printed Reinforced Matrix—A Model System to Study Disease Mechanisms (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 19/2021)
Spinal Cord Neuronal Network Formation in a 3D Printed Reinforced Matrix—A Model System to Study Disease Mechanisms (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 19/2021) Open
In article number 2100830, Natascha Schaefer and co-workers show an immunocytochemical z-stack of a two week old three dimensional primary spinal cord composit.Proteins marked are VGAT (cyan), GlyR (magenta), and Nuclei (DAPI).The MEW-scaf…
View article: Novel Functional Properties of Missense Mutations in the Glycine Receptor β Subunit in Startle Disease
Novel Functional Properties of Missense Mutations in the Glycine Receptor β Subunit in Startle Disease Open
Startle disease is a rare disorder associated with mutations in GLRA1 and GLRB , encoding glycine receptor (GlyR) α1 and β subunits, which enable fast synaptic inhibitory transmission in the spinal cord and brainstem. The GlyR β subunit is…
View article: Spinal Cord Neuronal Network Formation in a 3D Printed Reinforced Matrix—A Model System to Study Disease Mechanisms
Spinal Cord Neuronal Network Formation in a 3D Printed Reinforced Matrix—A Model System to Study Disease Mechanisms Open
3D cell cultures allow a better mimicry of the biological and mechanical environment of cells in vivo compared to 2D cultures. However, 3D cell cultures have been challenging for ultrasoft tissues such as the brain. The present study uses …
View article: Pyridoxal kinase inhibition by artemisinins down-regulates inhibitory neurotransmission
Pyridoxal kinase inhibition by artemisinins down-regulates inhibitory neurotransmission Open
Significance Information processing in the central nervous system relies on chemical synapses where neurotransmitters such as the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are released at presynaptic nerve endings. GABA is syn…
View article: Melt Electrowritten In Vitro Radial Device to Study Cell Growth and Migration
Melt Electrowritten In Vitro Radial Device to Study Cell Growth and Migration Open
The development of in vitro assays for 3D microenvironments is essential for understanding cell migration processes. A 3D‐printed in vitro competitive radial device is developed to identify preferred Matrigel concentration for glioblastoma…
View article: Anxiety and Startle Phenotypes in Glrb Spastic and Glra1 Spasmodic Mouse Mutants
Anxiety and Startle Phenotypes in Glrb Spastic and Glra1 Spasmodic Mouse Mutants Open
A GWAS study recently demonstrated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human GLRB gene of individuals with a prevalence for agoraphobia. GLRB encodes the glycine receptor (GlyRs) β subunit. The identified SNPs are l…
View article: <scp>Glycine Receptor</scp> Autoantibodies Impair Receptor Function and Induce Motor Dysfunction
<span>Glycine Receptor</span> Autoantibodies Impair Receptor Function and Induce Motor Dysfunction Open
Objective Impairment of glycinergic neurotransmission leads to complex movement and behavioral disorders. Patients harboring glycine receptor autoantibodies suffer from stiff‐person syndrome or its severe variant progressive encephalomyeli…
View article: A Novel Glycine Receptor Variant with Startle Disease Affects Syndapin I and Glycinergic Inhibition
A Novel Glycine Receptor Variant with Startle Disease Affects Syndapin I and Glycinergic Inhibition Open
Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are the major mediators of fast synaptic inhibition in the adult human spinal cord and brainstem. Hereditary mutations to GlyRs can lead to the rare, but potentially fatal, neuromotor disorder hyperekplexia. Most …
View article: Pyridoxal Kinase Inhibition by Artemisinins Downregulates Inhibitory Neurotransmission
Pyridoxal Kinase Inhibition by Artemisinins Downregulates Inhibitory Neurotransmission Open
The anti-malarial artemisinins have also been implicated in the regulation of various other cellular pathways. Despite their widespread application, the cellular specificities and molecular mechanisms of target recognition by artemisinins …
View article: A versatile biomaterial ink platform for the melt electrowriting of chemically-crosslinked hydrogels
A versatile biomaterial ink platform for the melt electrowriting of chemically-crosslinked hydrogels Open
Click-crosslinked microperiodic hydrogels scaffolds from polymer melts: soft but surprisingly robust.
View article: The P429L loss of function mutation of the human glycine transporter 2 associated with hyperekplexia
The P429L loss of function mutation of the human glycine transporter 2 associated with hyperekplexia Open
Glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2) mutations across the entire sequence have been shown to represent the presynaptic component of the neurological disease hyperekplexia. Dominant, recessive and compound heterozygous mutations have been identifi…
View article: Author response for "The P429L loss of function mutation of the human glycine transporter 2 associated with hyperekplexia"
Author response for "The P429L loss of function mutation of the human glycine transporter 2 associated with hyperekplexia" Open
View article: Elucidating the Molecular Basis for Inhibitory Neurotransmission Regulation by Artemisinins
Elucidating the Molecular Basis for Inhibitory Neurotransmission Regulation by Artemisinins Open
View article: Impaired Glycine Receptor Trafficking in Neurological Diseases
Impaired Glycine Receptor Trafficking in Neurological Diseases Open
Ionotropic glycine receptors (GlyRs) enable fast synaptic neurotransmission in the adult spinal cord and brainstem. The inhibitory GlyR is a transmembrane glycine-gated chloride channel. The immature GlyR protein undergoes various processi…
View article: Functional Consequences of the Postnatal Switch From Neonatal to Mutant Adult Glycine Receptor α1 Subunits in the Shaky Mouse Model of Startle Disease
Functional Consequences of the Postnatal Switch From Neonatal to Mutant Adult Glycine Receptor α1 Subunits in the Shaky Mouse Model of Startle Disease Open
Mutations in GlyR α1 or β subunit genes in humans and rodents lead to severe startle disease characterized by rigidity, massive stiffness and excessive startle responses upon unexpected tactile or acoustic stimuli. The recently characteriz…
View article: The GlyR Extracellular β8–β9 Loop – A Functional Determinant of Agonist Potency
The GlyR Extracellular β8–β9 Loop – A Functional Determinant of Agonist Potency Open
Ligand-binding of Cys-loop receptors results in rearrangements of extracellular loop structures which are further translated into the tilting of membrane spanning helices, and finally opening of the ion channels. The cryo-EM structure of t…