Section on Neuronal Development

Head: Bai Lu

This laboratory studies the molecules that regulate synapse development and plasticity, with particular emphasis on the role of neurotrophic factors. Neurotrophic regulation of synaptic function and plasticity represents an emerging concept and a new field of research. Combined molecular biological and electrophysiological techniques are employed to study the regulatory effects of neurotrophic factors on the synapses at the neuromuscular junction and in the central nervous system, such as hippocampus. Recent work focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the acute and long-term neurotrophic regulation. Ongoing projects include: 1) neurotrophic regulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, using transgenic/knockout mice; 2) biochemical and molecular study of activity-dependent modulation of BDNF receptor in hippocampal cultures; 3) imaging analysis of neurotrophin protein secretion and trafficking; 4) molecular study of the signaling mechanisms for acute and long-term neurotrophic regulation, using Xenopus nerve-muscle system.

Resources

• Employee Listing
• E-Mail the Lab: lub@codon.nih.gov
• SND Home Page