Mechanisms of Ca- independent but Voltage-dependent Secretion (CiVDS) in DRG Neurons

Presenter: Professor Zhuan Zhou, Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Neurodegeneration, Peking University

Time:  14:00, 8th Oct. 2015

Place:  Room 205, Complex Building, School of Medicine

Host: Professor Lijun Kang

Research Interests:
    Secretion is a principle function of a cell. Neurotransmitter and hormone secretion is triggered by increase in intracellular Ca concentration. Professor Zhou is interested in mechanisms of how intracellular Ca is regulated in single cell level by advanced methods including biophysics (patch-clamp, CFE amperometry, confocal, multi-photon, TIRFM, optogentics, EM), biochemistry and molecular biology. Professor Zhou's research group investigates mechanisms of neurotransmitter, in particular catecholamines (adrenalin, noradrenalin, dopamine, serotonin), release from soma (or synapse) of single cells (DRG neuron, glial, chromaffin cell, pancreatic B cell), brain slices (dopamine neurons, locus coeruleus, Me5) or living rat/mouse brains (striatum, nuclei accubens, hippocampus) using animal disease models (PD, HD, schizophrenia, cocaine/ nicotine-addiction). Professor Zhou also studies mechanisms of endocytosis. He creates/modifies biophysical technologies and micro probes for Ca homeostasis and secretion. The research goal is to discover mechanisms of cell secretion in healthy and diseases conditions.