Heidrun Berger

Ms. Heidrun Berger


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
10 February 2026 in Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PCPaola Chietera
Paola Chietera
HBHeidrun Berger
Heidrun Berger
NWNico Wahl
Nico Wahl
MAMujahid Ali
Mujahid Ali
GAGalina Apostolova
Galina Apostolova
The epigenome and nuclear architectural mechanisms that regulate neuronal activity-induced transcriptional responses in cortical neurons remain incompletely understood. Previously, we have shown that the chromatin organizer SATB2 and the inner nuclear membrane protein LEMD2 form a chromatin tether at the nuclear lamina, and that activity-induced transcription is impaired in both Satb2 and Lemd2 loss-of-function models. Interaction of SATB2 and LEMD2 with subunits of the ESCRT-III complex indicates that the ESCRT-III complex could serve as an activity-dependent, dynamic component of this tether. Here, we study the activity-dependent subcellular localization and function of the ESCRT-III components CHMP7 and CHMP4B in primary cortical neurons. We find that increased neuronal activity correlates with the accumulation of co-localized CHMP7 and CHMP4B foci at the nuclear envelope. shRNA-mediated Chmp7 knockdown causes a reduction in the expression of activity-regulated genes and genes with highly specialized functions in synaptic organization and trans-synaptic signaling. Furthermore, the observed similarity in the global transcriptome responses in Satb2, Lemd2, and Chmp7 loss-of-function models points toward a previously unrecognized role of the SATB2–LEMD2–CHMP7 tether in linking chromatin architecture and nuclear envelope plasticity to activity-dependent gene regulation.