人脑由逾千亿神经元构成，这些神经元通过称为突触的特化连接点处理并传递信息。突触特性如何形成、稳定、维持及调控？这对维持精准的神经网络活动及正常脑功能至关重要。

我们实验室致力于解析突触形成与功能的分子机制，并探究神经发育性疾病和神经退行性疾病中突触功能障碍的深层机理。我们尤其关注突触构建与维持的分子规律，同时强调神经元与非神经细胞共同编码神经回路的核心逻辑。研究方法上，我们采用跨学科策略，涵盖从体外实验到动物行为评估的全链条技术体系，包括急性脑片膜片钳记录、动物行为学分析、病毒立体定位注射（基因操控与功能回路示踪）、光遗传学、分子生物学及小鼠遗传学等。

通过上述研究，我们将鉴定突触形成/功能的关键分子，并阐明其基因突变如何诱发神经疾病。研究成果不仅将揭示突触功能的分子基础，还将为理解突触异常在神经系统疾病中的作用提供理论支撑。

详情请点击：www.bozhanglab.org

张勃课题组系统深入的研究工作受国家自然科学基金委优秀青年项目，国际合作，面上项目及其它省市基金支持；张勃博士是 “深圳市享受政府特殊津贴专家”。

(*, 第一作者; ^# 通讯作者)

1. Qin, L*, Liu, Z.*, Guo, S., Han, Y., Wang, X., Ren, W., Chen, J., Zhen, H., Nie, C., Xing, K., Chen, T., Südhof TC^#, Sun, Y.^#, Zhang, B^#. (2024). Astrocytic Neuroligin-3 influences gene expression and social behavior, but is dispensable for synapse number. Molecular Psychiatry. 

2. Lloyd, B.A., Han, Y., Roth, R., Zhang, B., and Aoto, J^#. (2023). Neurexin-3 subsynaptic densities are spatially distinct from Neurexin-1 and essential for excitatory synapse nanoscale organization in the hippocampus. Nature Communications. 14, 4706. 

3. Zhu, F.*, Liu, L.*, Li, J.*, Liu, B., Wang, Q., Jiao R., Xu, Y., Wang, L., Sun, S., Sun, X., Younus, M., Wang, C., Hokfel, T., Zhang, B.^#, Gu, H.^#, Xu, Z.^#, Zhou, Z.^#. (2022). Cocaine increases quantal norepinephrine secretion through NET-dependent PKC activation in locus coeruleus neurons. Cell Reports. 40(7), 16 August 2022, 111199. 

4. Han, Y*, Cao, R*, Qin, L., Chen, L., Tang, A.,^#, Südhof, TC^#, Zhang, B^#. (2022) Neuroligin-3 confines AMPA-receptors into nanoclusters, thereby controlling synaptic strength at the calyx of Held synapses. Science Advances. 

5. Qin, L., Guo, S., Han, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, B^#. (2020) Functional mosaic organization of neuroligins in neuronal circuits. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 77, 3117-3127.  

6. Zhang, B.^#, Gokce, O., Hale, D., Brose, N., Südhof, TC. (2018) Autism-associated Neuroligin-4 mutation selectively impairs glycinergic synaptic transmission in mouse brainstem synapses. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 215 (6): 1543-1553.

7. Zhang, B.^#, Seigneur, E., Wei, P., Gokce, O., Morgan, J., Südhof, TC. (2017) Developmental plasticity shapes synaptic phenotypes of autism-associated neuroligin-3 mutations in the calyx of Held. Molecular Psychiatry. 22, 1483–1491. [F1000 recommended]. 

8. Zhang, B.^#, Südhof, TC. (2016). Neuroligins are selectively essential for NMDA-receptor signaling in cerebellar stellate interneurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 36(35):9070-9083.  Highlighted in J. Neurosci. [F1000 recommended]. 

9. Zhang, B.*, Chen, L.*, Maxeiner, S., Lee, S., Gokce, O., Südhof, TC^#. (2015) Neuroligins Sculpt Cerebellar Purkinje-Cell Circuits by Differential Control of Distinct Classes of Synapses. Neuron. 87(4):781-96. (Cover Story)