Harner Lab

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Dr. Max Harner

+49 89 2180 71885
max.harner@bmc.med.lmu.de

Research Topics

• Mitochondrial biogenesis in cells of the CNS
• Role of mitochondria in neuronal maturation
• Mitochondrial architecture in neurodegeneration

Publications

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5513-1046

Top 5 Publications

1. Resch, M., Frickel, J.S., Dischinger, K., Wen, R.C.S., Hell, K., and Harner, M.E. (2025). The Mia40 substrate Mix17 exposes its N-terminus to the cytosolic side of the mitochondrial outer membrane. J Cell Sci. 10.1242/jcs.263661.

2. Ehses, J., Schlegel, M., Schroger, L., Schieweck, R., Derdak, S., Bilban, M., Bauer, K., Harner, M., Kiebler, M.A. (2022). The dsRBP Staufen2 governs RNP assembly of neuronal Argonaute proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 50, 7034-7047. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkac487.

3. Harner, M.E., Unger, A.K., Geerts, W.J., Mari, M., Izawa, T., Stenger, M., Geimer, S., Reggiori, F., Westermann, B., Neupert, W. (2016). An evidence based hypothesis on the existence of two pathways of mitochondrial crista formation. Elife 5, e18853. doi: 10.7554/eLife.18853.

4. Harner, M.E., Unger, A.K., Izawa, T., Walther, D.M., Ozbalci, C., Geimer, S., Reggiori, F., Brugger, B., Mann, M., Westermann, B., Neupert, W. (2014). Aim24 and MICOS modulate respiratory function, tafazzin-related cardiolipin modification and mitochondrial architecture. Elife 3, e01684. doi: 10.7554/eLife.01684.

5. Harner, M., Korner, C., Walther, D., Mokranjac, D., Kaesmacher, J., Welsch, U., Griffith, J., Mann, M., Reggiori, F., Neupert, W. (2011a). The mitochondrial contact site complex, a determinant of mitochondrial architecture. EMBO J 30, 4356-4370. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2011.379.

Projects

We aim at analyzing the various functions of mitochondria that are important for the different cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Since mitochondrial function is intimately linked to their architecture, we are particularly interested in the role of structural elements of mitochondria in neurons. We employ a combination of biochemical, cell biological and genetical techniques in combination with state-of-the-art microscopy in different model systems to understand how mitochondria contribute to neuronal maturation and why altered mitochondrial architecture results in neurodegeneration.

Team