Bing Zhang
Assistant Professor Zoology Richards Hall 111 405-325-7450 bing at OU dot edu http://www.ou.edu/cas/zoology/Zhang.htm Ph.D., Neurobiology and Behavior - Cornell University, 1995Research:
A unique feature of the brain is the vast number of connections (called synapses) formed between neurons. Synapses are relay stations enabling neurons to communicate with each other. Hence, synapses are important for all functions of the nervous system, including learning, memory and cognition.
The primary interest of my laboratory is to study synapse structure and function in health and disease (such as Alzheimer's and ALS). We use the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) as an experimental animal, since it has been serving as an excellent model genetic organism for studies of the nervous system in more complex animals and humans. The general strategy that we employ is to derive the in vivo role of a gene based on phenotypic analysis of mutant flies. Besides molecular genetics, we also use cell biology, electrophysiology and biochemistry to examine the function of the gene product and its signaling pathways.
Selected Publications:
Watson, M. R., Lagow, R. D., Xu, K. X., Zhang, B., & Bonini, N. M. (2008) A Drosophila model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis reveals motor neuron damage by human SOD1. J Biol Chem., (in press).
Lagow, R. D., Bao, H., Cohen, E. N., Daniels, R. W., Williams, W. H., Macleod, G. T., Sutton, R. B., & Zhang, B. (2007) Modification of a hydrophobic layer by a point mutation in syntaxin 1A regulates the rate of synaptic vesicle fusion. PLoS Biol,, 5: 800-817.
Bao, H., Berlanga, M., Xue, M. S., Hapip, S., Daniels, R. W., Mendenhall, J. M., Alcantara, A., & Zhang, B. (2007) The atypical cadherin /receptor Flamingo regulates synaptogenesis and helps prevent axonal and synaptic degeneration in Drosophila. Mol. Cell. Neurosci., 34: 662-678.
Martinez, V. G., Javadi, C. S., Ngo, E., Ngo, L., Lagow, R. D., & Zhang, B. (2007) Age-related changes in climbing behavior and neural circuit physiology in Drosophila. Dev. Neurobiol., 67: 778-791.
MarquÈs, G. & Zhang, B. (2006) Retrograde signaling that regulates synaptic development and function at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. In: The Fly Neuromuscular Junction: Structure and Function. Second edition. Edited by Vivian Budnik and Catalina Ruiz-Canada. Academic Press, pp. 268-285.
Bao, H., Daniels, R. W., Macleod, G. T., Charlton, M. P., Atwood, H. L., & Zhang, B. (2005) AP180 maintains the distribution of synaptic and vesicle proteins in the nerve terminal and indirectly regulates the efficacy of Ca2+-triggered exocytosis. J. Neurophysiol., 94: 1888-1903.
Sherwood, N. T., Sun, Q., Xue, M., Zhang, B., & Zinn, K. (2004) Drosophila Spastin regulates synaptic microtubule networks and is required for normal motor function. PLoS Biol., 2: 2094-2111.