David Zenisek, PhD
Professor of Cellular And Molecular Physiology, of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and of Neuroscience
Research & Publications
Biography
News
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Research Summary
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.
Specialized Terms: Physiology and cell biology of the presynaptic terminal; Retinal Bipolar Neuron; Synaptic Terminal; Synaptic Ribbons; Vesicle Transport; Exocytosis; Endocytosis
Coauthors
Research Interests
Cell Biology; Endocytosis; Exocytosis; Ophthalmology; Physiology; Presynaptic Terminals; Retinal Bipolar Cells
Selected Publications
- The Effects of Aging on Rod Bipolar Cell Ribbon SynapsesShrestha 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.
- Author Correction: Membrane potential drives the exit from pluripotency and cell fate commitment via calcium and mTORSempou 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.
- Ribbon Synapses and Retinal Disease: ReviewFrederick C, Zenisek D. Ribbon Synapses and Retinal Disease: Review. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 2023, 24: 5090. PMID: 36982165, PMCID: PMC10049380, DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065090.
- Correction: Mesnard et al. Eliminating Synaptic Ribbons from Rods and Cones Halves the Releasable Vesicle Pool and Slows Down Replenishment. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 6429Mesnard C, Barta C, Sladek A, Zenisek D, Thoreson W. Correction: Mesnard et al. Eliminating Synaptic Ribbons from Rods and Cones Halves the Releasable Vesicle Pool and Slows Down Replenishment. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 6429. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 2023, 24: 1561. PMID: 36675323, PMCID: PMC9863641, DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021561.
- Membrane potential drives the exit from pluripotency and cell fate commitment via calcium and mTORSempou 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. Membrane potential drives the exit from pluripotency and cell fate commitment via calcium and mTOR. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 6681. PMID: 36335122, PMCID: PMC9637099, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34363-w.
- Rapid membrane flow at a presynaptic terminalPerez C, Dudzinski N, Rouches M, Machta B, Zenisek D, Karatekin E. Rapid membrane flow at a presynaptic terminal. Biophysical Journal 2022, 121: 230a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.11.1599.
- Dynamics of Membrane Tension and Synaptic Vesicle RecyclingPerez C, Dudzinski N, Rouches M, Machta B, Zenisek D, Karatekin E. Dynamics of Membrane Tension and Synaptic Vesicle Recycling. Biophysical Journal 2021, 120: 323a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.2037.
- Facile Membrane Flow and Tension Equilibration at a Presynaptic Nerve TerminalPerez C, Dudzinski N, Rouches M, Matcha B, Zenisek D, Karatekin E. Facile Membrane Flow and Tension Equilibration at a Presynaptic Nerve Terminal. Biophysical Journal 2020, 118: 232a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.11.1372.
- 3571 Expression profile of the ribbon synapse protein Ribeye in the zebrafishFrederick C, Zenisek D. 3571 Expression profile of the ribbon synapse protein Ribeye in the zebrafish. Journal Of Clinical And Translational Science 2019, 3: 11-11. PMCID: PMC6799612, DOI: 10.1017/cts.2019.29.
- Investigating Membrane Tension Dynamics in the Neuronal Presynaptic TerminalDudzinski N, Zenisek D, Karatekin E. Investigating Membrane Tension Dynamics in the Neuronal Presynaptic Terminal. Biophysical Journal 2019, 116: 313a-314a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.11.1699.
- A Gain-of-Function TRPP2 Ion Channel Created by Mutating Single Amino Acid in the S5 Transmembrane DomainPavel M, Lv C, Ng C, Kashyap P, Lam C, Valentino V, Fung H, Campbell T, Zenisek D, Holtzman N, Yu Y. A Gain-of-Function TRPP2 Ion Channel Created by Mutating Single Amino Acid in the S5 Transmembrane Domain. Biophysical Journal 2017, 112: 249a-250a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.11.1364.
- A marginal band of microtubules transports and organizes mitochondria in retinal bipolar synaptic terminalsGraffe M, Zenisek D, Taraska J. A marginal band of microtubules transports and organizes mitochondria in retinal bipolar synaptic terminals. Journal Of Cell Biology 2015, 210: 2102oia145. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.2102oia145.
- Charaterization of Calcium Current and Exocytosis in Zebrafish Lateral Line Hair Cells During DevelopmentLv C, Santos-Sacchi J, Zenisek D. Charaterization of Calcium Current and Exocytosis in Zebrafish Lateral Line Hair Cells During Development. Biophysical Journal 2014, 106: 597a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.3305.
- Synaptic Ribbons Influence the Size and Frequency of Miniature-like Evoked Postsynaptic CurrentsMehta B, Snellman J, Chen S, Li W, Zenisek D. Synaptic Ribbons Influence the Size and Frequency of Miniature-like Evoked Postsynaptic Currents. Neuron 2013, 77: 516-527. PMID: 23395377, PMCID: PMC3569740, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.11.024.
- Acute Damage to Synaptic Ribbons Differentially Affects Evoked and Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release from Rod Bipolar CellsMehta B, Snellman J, Zenisek D. Acute Damage to Synaptic Ribbons Differentially Affects Evoked and Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release from Rod Bipolar Cells. Biophysical Journal 2012, 102: 670a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.3647.
- Calcium-Induced Calcium Release (CICR) Triggers Fusion of Individual Synaptic Vesicles in Rod TerminalsChen M, Zenisek D, Thoreson W. Calcium-Induced Calcium Release (CICR) Triggers Fusion of Individual Synaptic Vesicles in Rod Terminals. Biophysical Journal 2012, 102: 319a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.1751.
- Acute destruction of the synaptic ribbon reveals a role for the ribbon in vesicle primingSnellman J, Mehta B, Babai N, Bartoletti TM, Akmentin W, Francis A, Matthews G, Thoreson W, Zenisek D. Acute destruction of the synaptic ribbon reveals a role for the ribbon in vesicle priming. Nature Neuroscience 2011, 14: 1135-1141. PMID: 21785435, PMCID: PMC3171202, DOI: 10.1038/nn.2870.
- Development of new peptide-based tools for studying synaptic ribbon functionFrancis AA, Mehta B, Zenisek D. Development of new peptide-based tools for studying synaptic ribbon function. Journal Of Neurophysiology 2011, 106: 1028-1037. PMID: 21653726, PMCID: PMC3154815, DOI: 10.1152/jn.00255.2011.
- Real-time visualization of complexin during single exocytic eventsAn SJ, Grabner CP, Zenisek D. Real-time visualization of complexin during single exocytic events. Nature Neuroscience 2010, 13: 577-583. PMID: 20383135, PMCID: PMC2860691, DOI: 10.1038/nn.2532.
- Imaging Exocytosis in Retinal Bipolar Cells with TIRF MicroscopyJoselevitch C, Zenisek D. Imaging Exocytosis in Retinal Bipolar Cells with TIRF Microscopy. Journal Of Visualized Experiments 2009, 1305. PMID: 19513018, PMCID: PMC2794884, DOI: 10.3791/1305.
- Evanescent Field Fluorescence MicroscopyZenisek D. Evanescent Field Fluorescence Microscopy. 2009, 1158-1160. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_3104.
- Recent progress towards understanding the synaptic ribbonPrescott ED, Zenisek D. Recent progress towards understanding the synaptic ribbon. Current Opinion In Neurobiology 2005, 15: 431-436. PMID: 16023852, DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2005.07.005.
- Direct Visualization of Single Membrane Scission Events at Clathrin-Coated Pits Using a Novel Optical Assay and Evanescent Field Microscopy.Merrifield C, Porrais D, Zenisek D. Direct Visualization of Single Membrane Scission Events at Clathrin-Coated Pits Using a Novel Optical Assay and Evanescent Field Microscopy. Microscopy And Microanalysis 2005, 11: 240-241. DOI: 10.1017/s1431927605505282.
- Coupling between Clathrin-Coated-Pit Invagination, Cortactin Recruitment, and Membrane Scission Observed in Live CellsMerrifield CJ, Perrais D, Zenisek D. Coupling between Clathrin-Coated-Pit Invagination, Cortactin Recruitment, and Membrane Scission Observed in Live Cells. Cell 2005, 121: 593-606. PMID: 15907472, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2005.03.015.
- The Role of Mitochondria in Presynaptic Calcium Handling at a Ribbon SynapseZenisek D, Matthews G. The Role of Mitochondria in Presynaptic Calcium Handling at a Ribbon Synapse. Neuron 2000, 25: 229-237. PMID: 10707986, DOI: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80885-5.
- Calcium action potentials in retinal bipolar neuronsZENISEK D, MATTHEWS G. Calcium action potentials in retinal bipolar neurons. Visual Neuroscience 1998, 15: 69-75. PMID: 9456506, DOI: 10.1017/s0952523898151064.
- Static and Dynamic Membrane Properties of Large-Terminal Bipolar Cells From Goldfish Retina: Experimental Test of a Compartment ModelMennerick S, Zenisek D, Matthews G. Static and Dynamic Membrane Properties of Large-Terminal Bipolar Cells From Goldfish Retina: Experimental Test of a Compartment Model. Journal Of Neurophysiology 1997, 78: 51-62. PMID: 9242260, DOI: 10.1152/jn.1997.78.1.51.