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David Zenisek

 

Physiology & Integrative Medical Biology; Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics & Development; Neuroscience

Assistant Professor of Cellular & Molecular Physiology

Education

B.A. Colorado School of Mines 1991
Ph.D. SUNY Stony Brook 1998

Research Interests

Neurons communicate with one another by the release of neurotransmitters through exocytosis. Although all eukaryotic cells secrete molecules, a hallmark of neurons is the speed and spatial regulation of the secretion process. The main objective of the research in my laboratory is to understand how presynaptic terminals are specialized for these tasks. This work involves the study of several aspects of presynaptic function including vesicle transport, exocytosis, and endocytosis. The primary model system in the laboratory is the retinal bipolar neuron of the goldfish and zebrafish, which have unusually large synaptic terminals. These neurons belong to a class of neurons that have specialized synaptic structures known as synaptic ribbons. One specific focus of the laboratory is to understand the role of these structures in synaptic transmission in tonic sensory neurons. In order to study presynaptic function, my laboratory uses a combination of electrophysiological, molecular, and optical approaches.

Links

• Zenisek Homepage

Recent Publications

• Merrifield, C.J., Perrais, D., and Zenisek, D. (2005). Coupling between clathrin-coated pit invagination, cortactin recruitment and membrane scission observed in live cells. Cell 121:593-606.
• Prescott, E.D. and Zenisek, D. (2005). Recent progress toward understanding the synaptic ribbon. Curr. Opinion Neurobiol. 15:431-436.

Contact

E-mail
david.zenisek@yale.edu