My research interests are the molecular neurobiology and molecular endocrinology of invertebrates. As model systems I use two animal groups, namely cnidarians and insects. I have chosen cnidarians, because they are the lowest group in the Animal Kingdom that has a nervous system, and because they are simple and can be used as model systems, e.g. by developmental biologists. In cnidarians, we investigate the structure and function of neuropeptides, neuropeptide biosynthesis and neuropeptide receptors. This molecular and cellular work is basic our for understanding of the functioning of the whole animal, but it also gives us insights in the evolution of the first nervous systems.
Insects are the largest group of invertebrate animals.
Here, we investigate receptors and receptor ligands that steer important processes such as reproduction and development. We use the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster as one of our study species, because it is a genetic model and its genome has recently been sequenced. A likely role for dipeptidyl aminopeptidase in neuropeptide precursor processing. In addition, I am reviewer for a large variety of international scientific journals.