Noa Lipstein-Thoms

Noa Lipstein studied Medical Sciences at Tel Aviv University, and carried her doctoral and postdoctoral training at the Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen. In 2020 she was appointed a group leader at the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, where she heads the junior group ‘Synapse Biology’. The group focuses on elucidating the contribution of synaptic proteins to neuronal function and plasticity, and on deciphering synaptic disease mechanisms in brain disorders. They combine genetic manipulations in mouse models with electrophysiological and cell type-specific biochemical tools to study the molecular composition and organization of synapses. Within the FOR 5705, Lipstein will join forces with Matthias Kneussel to study molecular alterations of the synaptic proteome during inflammation, and how these may stem from dysfunction of axonal transport mechanisms.

Publications

Pathogenic UNC13A variants cause a neurodevelopmental syndrome by impairing synaptic function. Asadollahi R., Ahmad A., Boonsawat P. et al. Nat Genet. 57, 2691-2704 (2025).

Endogenous SNAP-Tagging of Munc13‑1 for Monitoring Synapse Nanoarchitecture. Kowald M., Bachollet S.P.J.T., Benseler F. et al. JACS Au. 5, 2475-2490 (2025).

Munc13-1 is a Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent vesicle priming hub that shapes synaptic short-term plasticity and enables sustained neurotransmission. Lipstein N., Chang S., Lin K.H. et al. Neuron. 109, 3980-4000.e7 (2021).

Synaptic UNC13A protein variant causes increased neurotransmission and dyskinetic movement disorder. Lipstein N., Verhoeven-Duif N.M., Michelassi F.E. et al. J Clin Invest. 127, 1005-1018 (2017).

Investigating the Molecular Composition of Neuronal Subcompartments Using Proximity Labeling. Lohse M., Sun S., Fiosins M. et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2910, 105-125 (2025).

Links

Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Berlin

Institution