Neuronal communication is mediated primarily by chemical transmission across synapses.
At presynaptic terminals, proper transmission requires not only exocytosis of synaptic vesicles but also their rapid replenishment by endocytosis. The goal of Dr. Zhang's laboratory is to elucidate molecular mechanisms of the latter process, synaptic vesicle recycling. Specifically, Dr. Zhang is interested in understanding how synaptic vesicle endocytosis is initiated and regulated, how synaptic vesicles are reformed, and how recycling affects exocytosis and synaptic plasticity. To address these questions, Dr. Zhang is using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model system to reveal in vivo functions of endocytic proteins through mutational analysis of their genes. This genetic approach is complemented with molecular biology, cell biology, optical imaging, and electrophysiology.