Z-P Feng, PhD
Dr. Feng
Contact Information:
Phone: 416-946-0671 (office)
Phone 2: 416-946-5506 (lab)
Fax: 416-978-4940
Email: zp.feng@utoronto.ca
Address: Department of Physiology, Rm. 3306
Medical Sciences Building
1 King's College
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8

ACADEMIC STATUS
Departmental Status: Associate Professor

Degrees: MD 1983, PhD 1998

Courses Taught: PSL1026, PSL1452/PSL452, PSL450, PSL374, HMB310

RESEARCH
Research Divisions: Brain Research and Integrated Neurophysiology B.R.A.I.N. Platform

Research Interests: Synapse formation, synaptic physiology, and voltage-dependent calcium channels

Detailed Description: At the mature synapse, the presynaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels co-localize with synaptic elements at the active zone. However, the mechanisms underlying development of presynaptic architecture during synapse formation are largely unknown. Since synaptogenesis between identified pre- and postsynaptic neurons in a mammalian system is often difficult to study at a single cell level, our laboratory uses Lymnaea synapse to determine cellular and molecular mechanisms by which voltage-dependent calcium channels and synaptic structural proteins are targeted to specific synaptic sites during synapse formation and synaptic plasticity. We will subsequently test whether the mechanisms in invertebrate neurons are also conserved in vertebrate systems. We are also studying the molecular determinants of the presynaptic calcium channel functions and modulation. The main experimental approaches used in our laboratory include patch clamp recordings, optical imaging, cell culture, immunocytochemical, and molecular biological techniques.

METHODS USED
Cell and tissue culture: Cardiomyocytes, hippocampal cells, neurons, pancreas cells.

Procedures: Behavioral tests, electrophysiology, gene expression analysis, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, in vitro electrophysiology, intracellular injection, mass spectrometry, microarrays, patch clamp, proteomics, qRT-PCR, RT-PCR, signal transduction characterization, siRNA, voltage clamp, western blot.

EQUIPMENT USED
Amplifier (Multiclamp 700), Analytical balances, benchtop centrifuge, blotting apparatus, calcium imaging system (PTI), confocal microscope (Leica), culture hood, culture incubators, digidata (1300 series), dissecting microscope, electrophysiology rig (patch-clamping rigs), fluorescence microscope (inverted microscopes), gel apparatus (BioRed), low- and high-speed centrifuge (-80¬°C), micropipette puller (Sutter), microwave oven, mini vortexer, monochromator (PTI), setups for electropherosis (BioRed), stirrer/hot plate, water baths.

SAMPLE PUBLICATIONS AND ABSTRACTS
Click on link to PubMed

Click on link for Reviews

PRESENT TRAINEES
Nasrin Nejatbakhsh
Tom Lu
Kathy Li
Mila Aleksic
Yi Quan
Marielle Deurloo
Andrew Barszczyk

PRESENT COLLABORATIONS
Within the Department of Physiology:
Milton Charlton
Shuzo Sugita
John Roder
Hong Sun
Qinghua Wang
Herbert Gaisano
Peter Backx
Evelyn Lambe
Scott Heximer

Outside the Department of Physiology:
Zhaolei Zhang, Med Gen/UT
Peter Roy, Med Gen/UT
Renke Li, Medicine/UT
Bob French, Physiology/Univ of Calgary
Terry Snutch, Brain Inst./UBC
Guus Smit, Neurobio/VU Univ/Netherlands
Ronald van Kesteran, Neurobio/VU Univ/Netherlands