UMDNJ
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
675 Hoes Lane
Piscataway, NJ 08854

(732) 235-5772
FAX: (732) 235-4029

zhengjq@umdnj.edu

Laboratory Home Page

Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of precise neuronal connections during development, cytoskeletal dynamics of developing neurons, development of neuronal polarity, membrane recycling and transmitter release, and neuronal plasticity.

• Cell & molecular biology
• Video microscopy
• Digital imaging
• Electrophysiology

My laboratory is interested in several developmental events leading to the precise wiring of the complex nervous system. In particular, we are interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate and govern the migration of neuronal precursors, guidance of developing axonal processes, and target-recognition and synapse formation by nerve processes.

Using a variety of approaches including cell and molecular biology, digital imaging, and electrophysiology, we aim specifically to dissect the intracellular signaling pathways that transduce extracellular signals to specific neuronal activities. One of our current focuses is on the guidance of developing axons by diffusible cues. During neuronal development, the motile tip of the axon, the growth cone, senses various guidance cues and steers the axon through the complex environment of developing embryo to reach the correct target. Using some unique and sophisticated high-resolution digital imaging and high-precision intracellular manipulation, we are able to dissect step-by-step the signaling pathway that allows the growth cone to sense the direction from the environment and transduce it intracellularly for directed axonal extension.

For complete list: PubMed

Wen, Z. Han, L., Bamburg, J.R., Shim, S., Ming, G.L. and Zheng, J.Q. (2007) BMP Gradients Steer Nerve Growth Cones by a Balancing Act of LIM Kinase and Slingshot Phosphatase on ADF/Cofilin. J. Cell Biol. 178(1):107-119

Alder, J. and Zheng, J.Q. (2007) Surfing on Calcium Waves. Neuron 54(4): 502-505

Han, J., Han, L., Tiwari, P., Wen, Z. and Zheng, J.Q. (2007) Spatial Targeting of Type II Protein Kinase A to Filopodia Mediates the Regulation of Growth Cone Guidance by cAMP. J. Cell Biol. 176(1): 101-111

Yao, J., Sasaki, Y., Wen, Z., Bassell, G.J. and Zheng, J.Q. (2006) An Essential Role for ß-actin mRNA Localization and Translation in Ca2+-dependent Growth Cone Guidance. Nature Neurosci. 9(10): 1265 – 1273

Rui, Y., Tiwari, P., Xie, Z.P. and Zheng, J.Q. (2006) Acute Impairment of Mitochondrial Trafficking by ß-Amyloid Peptides in Hippocampal Neurons. J. Neurosci. 26(41): 10480-10487

Gomez, T.M. and Zheng, J.Q. (2006) Molecular Basis for Calcium-Dependent Axon Pathfinding. Nature Rev. Neurosci. 7(2): 115 – 125

Wen, Z., Guirland, C., Ming, G.L. and Zheng, J.Q. (2004) A CaMKII/Calcineurin Switch Controls the Direction of Growth Cone Guidance. Neuron 43(6): 835 – 846

Guirland, C., Suzuki, S.., Kojima, M.., Lu, B. and Zheng, J.Q. (2004) Lipid Rafts Mediate Chemotropic Guidance of Nerve Growth Cones. Neuron 42(1): 51 – 62