研究方向
典型的成熟神經(jīng)元含有一個(gè)軸突和多個(gè)樹突，前者負(fù)責(zé)將后者接收到的信號(hào)傳遞給其他神經(jīng)元。突觸是神經(jīng)信號(hào)傳遞的基本單位，由神經(jīng)末梢的突觸前部及胞體和樹突的突觸后部組成。因此，神經(jīng)元極化和突觸形成是大腦發(fā)育的結(jié)構(gòu)基礎(chǔ)，其結(jié)構(gòu)的不對(duì)稱性對(duì)于信息的正確傳遞至關(guān)重要。我們關(guān)注的問題是神經(jīng)元極化和突觸形成的分子機(jī)理。
在研課題
（1）以體外培養(yǎng)的海馬神經(jīng)元為模型篩選決定或影響神經(jīng)元極性的分子，尤其是調(diào)節(jié)微管和肌動(dòng)蛋白細(xì)胞骨架組織結(jié)構(gòu)的分子。
（2）研究介導(dǎo)突起生長(zhǎng)和/或軸突特化的信號(hào)傳導(dǎo)機(jī)制，尤其是分泌信號(hào)（如Wnt）與胞內(nèi)信號(hào)分子的作用。
（3）探討神經(jīng)肌肉接頭突觸后分化的胞內(nèi)機(jī)制，包括促使乙酰膽堿受體聚集的正性信號(hào)（如agrin）和消散突觸后受體的神經(jīng)遞質(zhì)（如乙酰膽堿）的作用機(jī)理。
（4）鑒定誘導(dǎo)突觸前分化的分子。以神經(jīng)肌肉接頭為模型，鑒定可能誘導(dǎo)運(yùn)動(dòng)神經(jīng)末梢突觸前分化的肌肉來源的分子。
上述研究最終可為各類神經(jīng)功能障礙，諸如脊髓損傷、神經(jīng)肌傳導(dǎo)紊亂和神經(jīng)退行性疾病的治療提供新的靶點(diǎn)。
代表論文
1. Zhou, X.P., Wu, K.Y., Liang, B., Fu, X.Q., Luo, Z.G. (2008) TrkB-mediated Activation of Geranylgeranyltransferase I Promotes Dendritic Morphogenesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA .105: 17181-17186.
2. Wang, J., Ruan, N.J., Qian, L., Lei, W.L., Chen, F., and Luo, Z.G. (2008) Wnt/beta-catenin signaling suppresses rapsyn expression and inhibits acetylcholine receptor clustering at the neuromuscular junction. J. Biol. Chem. 283: 21668-21675.
3. Chen, F., Qian, L., Yang, Z.H., Huang, Y., Ngo, S.T., Ruan, N.J., Wang, J., Schneider, C., Noakes, P.G., Ding, Y.Q., Mei, L., and Luo, Z.G. (2007) Rapsyn interaction with calpain stabilizes AChR clusters at the neuromuscular junction. Neuron 55, 247-260.
4. Zhang, X., Zhu, J., Yang, G.Y., Wang, Q.J., Qian, L., Chen, Y.M., Chen, F., Tao, Y., Hu, H.S., Wang, T., and Luo, Z.G. (2007) Dishevelled promotes axon differentiation by regulating atypical protein kinase C. Nat. Cell Biol. 9, 743-754.
Highlighted by News and Views: Ohno S (2007) Extrinsic Wnt signaling controls the polarity component aPKC. Nat. Cell Biol. 9, 938-740.
5. Chen, Y.M., Wang, Q.J., Hu, H.S.,Yu, P.C., Zhu, J., Drewes, G., Piwnica-Worms, H., Luo, Z.G. (2006) Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 2 functions downstream of the PAR-3/PAR-6/aPKC complex in regulating hippocampal neuronal polarity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103, 8534-8539.
6. Luo, Z.G., Je, H.S., Wang, Q., Yang, F., Clem Dobbins, G., Yang, Z.H., Xiong, W.C., Lu, B., Mei, L. (2003) Implication of Geranylgeranyltransferase in Synapse Formation. Neuron 40, 703-717.
7. Luo, Z.G., Wang, Q., Zhou, J.Z., Wang, J., Liu, M., He, X., Wynshaw-Boris, A., Xiong, W.C., Lu, B., Mei. L.(2002) Regulation of AchR clustering by Dishevelled Interacting with MuSK and PAK1. Neuron 35, 489-505.
