David Zenisek, PhD

Professor of Cellular And Molecular Physiology, of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and of Neuroscience

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Appointments

Cellular & Molecular Physiology

Primary

Neuroscience

Secondary

Ophthalmology

Secondary

Contact Info

david.zenisek@yale.edu

203.785.6474

About

Titles

Professor of Cellular And Molecular Physiology, of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and of Neuroscience

Appointments

Cellular & Molecular Physiology
Professor
Primary
Cellular & Molecular Physiology
Neuroscience
Professor
Secondary
Neuroscience
Ophthalmology
Professor
Secondary
Ophthalmology

Education & Training

PhD: State University of New York (1998)

Research

Overview

Medical Research Interests

Cell Biology; Endocytosis; Exocytosis; Ophthalmology; Physiology; Presynaptic Terminals; Retinal Bipolar Cells

ORCID
0000-0001-6052-0348

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of David Zenisek's published research.

Publications

2026

Electrophysiological Profiling of Exocytosis during Early-Stage Development of the Zebrafish Lateral Line.
Wang J, Landajuela A, Santos-Sacchi J, Karatekin E, Zenisek D. Electrophysiological Profiling of Exocytosis during Early-Stage Development of the Zebrafish Lateral Line. ENeuro 2026, 13: eneuro.0479-25.2026. PMID: 42697730, DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0479-25.2026.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Germ layer-specific interaction of ion channels and transporters controls membrane potential and left-right patterning in Xenopus tropicalis
Tyan L, Kostiuk V, Diab N, Zenisek D, Khokha M. Germ layer-specific interaction of ion channels and transporters controls membrane potential and left-right patterning in Xenopus tropicalis. Communications Biology 2026 PMID: 42337067, DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10039-9.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Distinct Roles of CaMKII in Synaptic Vesicle Dynamics at Zebrafish Retinal Rod Bipolar Ribbon Synapses
Boff J, Sivakumar S, Rameshkumar N, Khamrai M, Seetharaman J, Olmos-Carreño C, Chudasama N, Yoshimatsu T, Zenisek D, Tavalin S, Vaithianathan T. Distinct Roles of CaMKII in Synaptic Vesicle Dynamics at Zebrafish Retinal Rod Bipolar Ribbon Synapses. Journal Of Neuroscience 2026, 46: e1495252026. PMID: 42097892, PMCID: PMC13255938, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1495-25.2026.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

2025

Nanophysiology approach reveals diversity in calcium microdomains across zebrafish retinal bipolar ribbon synapses
Rameshkumar N, Shrestha A, Boff J, Hoon M, Matveev V, Zenisek D, Vaithianathan T. Nanophysiology approach reveals diversity in calcium microdomains across zebrafish retinal bipolar ribbon synapses. ELife 2025, 14: rp105875. PMID: 41324993, PMCID: PMC12668674, DOI: 10.7554/elife.105875.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
Nanophysiology approach reveals diversity in calcium microdomains across zebrafish retinal bipolar ribbon synapses
Rameshkumar N, Shrestha A, Boff J, Hoon M, Matveev V, Zenisek D, Vaithianathan T. Nanophysiology approach reveals diversity in calcium microdomains across zebrafish retinal bipolar ribbon synapses. ELife 2025, 14 DOI: 10.7554/elife.105875.4.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
TMBIM4 affects left-right patterning via pluripotency exit during gastrulation
Diab N, Kostiuk V, Tyan L, Mis E, Zenisek D, Khokha M. TMBIM4 affects left-right patterning via pluripotency exit during gastrulation. Developmental Biology 2025, 527: 136-146. PMID: 40744297, DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2025.07.018.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
CACNA1G, A Heterotaxy Candidate Gene, Plays a Role in Ciliogenesis and Left‐Right Patterning in Xenopus tropicalis
Kostiuk V, Kabir R, Akbari R, Rushing A, González D, Kim A, Kim A, Zenisek D, Khokha M. CACNA1G, A Heterotaxy Candidate Gene, Plays a Role in Ciliogenesis and Left‐Right Patterning in Xenopus tropicalis. Genesis 2025, 63: e70009-e70009. PMID: 40008628, PMCID: PMC11867209, DOI: 10.1002/dvg.70009.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords

2024

Presynaptic Proteins and Their Roles in Visual Processing by the Retina
Thoreson W, Zenisek D. Presynaptic Proteins and Their Roles in Visual Processing by the Retina. Annual Review Of Vision Science 2024, 10: 347-375. PMID: 38621251, PMCID: PMC11536687, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-101322-111204.
Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements

2023

The Effects of Aging on Rod Bipolar Cell Ribbon Synapses
Shrestha A, Rameshkumar N, Boff J, Rajmanna R, Chandrasegaran T, Frederick C, Zenisek D, Vaithianathan T. The Effects of Aging on Rod Bipolar Cell Ribbon Synapses. Cells 2023, 12: 2385. PMID: 37830599, PMCID: PMC10572008, DOI: 10.3390/cells12192385.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
Author Correction: Membrane potential drives the exit from pluripotency and cell fate commitment via calcium and mTOR
Sempou E, Kostiuk V, Zhu J, Cecilia Guerra M, Tyan L, Hwang W, Camacho-Aguilar E, Caplan M, Zenisek D, Warmflash A, Owens N, Khokha M. Author Correction: Membrane potential drives the exit from pluripotency and cell fate commitment via calcium and mTOR. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 3264. PMID: 37277326, PMCID: PMC10241910, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39025-z.
Commentaries, Editorials and Letters

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News

Get In Touch

Contacts

david.zenisek@yale.edu

Academic Office Number

203.785.6474

Locations

Sterling Hall of Medicine, B-Wing
Academic Office
333 Cedar Street, Ste Room B114
New Haven, CT 06510
Appointments
203.785.6474
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Events

Nov 20265Thursday

Yale Only
4:00 PM5:00 PM
Brisa Palikuqi, PhD
C&M Physiology Seminar Series
"The Endothelial Cell Network: Shaping Intestinal Regeneration and Function"
Sterling Hall of Medicine, B-Wing
Zoom link available for those who cannot attend in person.
https://yale.zoom.us/j/91398772020
Add event to Calendar

Appointments

Contact Info

Titles

Appointments

Cellular & Molecular Physiology

Neuroscience

Ophthalmology

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Overview

Medical Research Interests

ORCID

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Valentyna Kostiuk

Leonid Tyan, PhD

Courtney Frederick

Ane Landajuela Larma

Emily Kathryn Mis, PhD

Erdem Karatekin, PhD

Publications

2026

2025

2024

2023

News

Three Multidisciplinary Teams Honored With 2026 Kavli Innovative Teams Awards

Yale Vision Core Grant from the National Institute of Health Has Been Renewed

Contacts

Locations

Sterling Hall of Medicine, B-Wing

Events

C&M Physiology Seminar Series