James Q. Zheng Professor UMDNJ-RWJMS Dept. of Neuroscience and Cell Biology. R316/318 Piscataway. NJ 08854 (732) 235-5772 FAX - 4029 zhengjq@umdnj.edu Visit Dr. Zheng's Homepage!

Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of precise neuronal connections during development. cytoskeletal dynamics of developing neurons. development of neuronal polarity. membrane recycling and transmitter release. and neuronal plasticity

My laboratory is interested in several developmental events leading to the precise wiring of the complex nervous system. In particular. we are interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate and govern the migration of neuronal precursors. guidance of developing axonal processes. and target-recognition and synapse formation by nerve processes.

Using a variety of approaches including cell and molecular biology. digital imaging. and electrophysiology. we aim specifically to dissect the intracellular signaling pathways that transduce extracellular signals to specific neuronal activities. One of our current focuses is on the guidance of developing axons by diffusible cues. During neuronal development. the motile tip of the axon. the growth cone. senses various guidance cues and steers the axon through the complex environment of developing embryo to reach the correct target. Using some unique and sophisticated high-resolution digital imaging and high-precision intracellular manipulation. we are able to dissect step-by-step the signaling pathway that allows the growth cone to sense the direction from the environment and transduce it intracellularly for directed axonal extension.

Selected Publications

Zheng JQ and Poo MM (2007). Calcium signaling in neuronal motility. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. Vol.23: 375-404

Wen Z, Han L, Bamburg JR, Shim S, Ming GL, and Zheng JQ (2007). BMP Gradients steer nerve growth cones by a balancing act of LIM kinase and slingshot phosphatase on ADF/Cofilin. Journal of Cell Biology. 178(1):107-119.

Alder J and Zheng JQ (2007). Surfing on Calcium Waves. Neuron. 54(4): 502-505.

Han J, Han L, Tiwari P, Wen Z, Zheng JQ. (2007) Spatial targeting of type II protein kinase A to filopodia mediates the regulation of growth cone guidance by cAMP. J Cell Biol. 176(1):101-11.

Rui Y, Tiwari P, Xie Z, Zheng JQ. (2006) Acute impairment of mitochondrial trafficking by beta-amyloid peptides in hippocampal neurons. J Neurosci. 26(41):10480-7.

Charych EI, Akum BF, Goldberg JS, Jornsten RJ, Rongo C, Zheng JQ, Firestein BL. (2006) Activity-independent regulation of dendrite patterning by postsynaptic density protein PSD-95. J Neurosci. 26(40):10164-76.

Yao J, Sasaki Y, Wen Z, Bassell GJ, Zheng JQ. (2006) An essential role for beta-actin mRNA localization and translation in Ca2+-dependent growth cone guidance. Nat Neurosci. 9(10):1265-73.

Gomez TM. Zheng JQ. (2006) The molecular basis for calcium-dependent axon pathfinding. Nat Rev Neurosci. 7(2):115-25.

Wen Z. Zheng JQ. (2006) Directional guidance of nerve growth cones. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 16(1):52-8.

Wen Z. Guirland C. Ming GL. Zheng JQ. (2004) A CaMKII/calcineurin switch controls the direction of Ca(2+)-dependent growth cone guidance. Neuron. 43(6):835-46.

Guirland. C. Suzuki. S. Kojima. M. Lu. B. and Zheng. JQ (2004). Lipid rafts mediate chemotropic guidance of nerve growth cones. Neuron 42(1):51-62.

Liu. Z-j.. Geng. L.. Li. R-x. He. X-p.. Zheng. JQ. and Xie. Z-p. (2003). Frequency modulation of synchronized Ca2+ spikes in cultured hippocampal networks through G protein-coupled receptors. Journal of Neuroscience 23(10):4156-4163.

Guirland. C.. Buck. K.B.. Gibney. J.A.. Dicicco-Bloom. E.. and Zheng. J.Q. (2003). Direct cAMP signaling through G protein-coupled receptors mediates growth cone attraction induced by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide. Journal of Neuroscience 23(6):2274-2283.

Gibney. J.A. and Zheng. J.Q. (2003). Cytoskeletal dynamics underlying collateral membrane protrusions induced by neurotrophins in cultured Xenopus spinal neurons. Journal of Neurobiology 54(2):393-405.

Buck. K.B. and Zheng. J.Q. (2002). Growth cone turning induced by direct local modification of microtubule dynamics. Journal of Neuroscience 22(21):9358-9367.

Zheng. J.Q. (2000) Turning of nerve growth cones induced by localized increases in intracellular calcium ions. Nature 403:89-93.

DiCicco-Bloom. E.. Deutsch. P.J.. Maltzman. J.. Zhang. J.W.. Pintar. J.E.. Zheng. J.Q.. Friedman. W.F.. and Zaremba. T. (2000) Autocrine expression and ontogenetic functions of the PACAP ligand/receptor system during sympathetic development. Develop. Biology 219:197-213.