Doctoral Defence 21.3.2025: David Micinski

David Micinski

Neurons are highly polarized cells having specialized structures with distinct functions. The axon initial segment (AIS) is a specialized domain at the base of the axon, responsible for the generation of action potentials and maintenance of neuronal polarity. The PhD thesis of David Micinski focuses on the role of different actin structures and actin-binding proteins in the context of the AIS. Advances in microscopy techniques in recent years have enabled a more detailed examination of the actin cytoskeleton within the AIS, revealing that the actin cytoskeleton plays a role in many of the AIS’s functions.