Topic: Molecular understanding of neuronal morphogenesis and polarization in vivo
Speaker: Professor SHEN Kang, Department of Biology, Stanford University (Stanford)
Date and time: 13:30–15:00, January 5
Venue: Auditorium of L Building
Host: TONG Xiajing, ZOU Yan
Abstract:
Neural morphogenesis is essential for the wiring of the nervous system. During development of the worm, fly, and mammals, axon and dendrite exhibit stochastic growth and retraction but eventually establish stereotyped arbor shape. How ligand-receptor interaction underlies this stochastic determinism is not understood. We used the C. elegans PVD neuron as a model system to study how genes and proteins give rise to both random growth and stereotyped shape. These studies have also shed light on how neurons become polarized through neuronal specific microtubule organization and establish axon initial segments. These studies demonstrate the power of using invertebrate systems to study in vivo neuronal cell biology.
Biography:
Professor, Biology & Pathology, Stanford University (2013–Present)
Associate Professor, Biology, Stanford University (2009–2013)
Howard Hughes Investigator, Biology, Stanford University (2008–Present)
Assistant Professor, Biology, Stanford University (2003–2009)
PhD, Duke University, Molecular Cellular neuroscience (1999)
MD, Tongji Medical University, China (1994)