Research

Synaptic vesicle exocytosis is an elementary process in neuronal communication, and its modulation is important for the high-ordered brain functions, such as emotion, learning and memory. Growing evidence suggests that a large number of neurological disorders (e.g. ischemic stroke, depression and AD) are tightly related to the synaptic dysfunction. However, detailed mechanism that the presynaptic secretory machinery achieves the precise neurotransmitter release and its impact on information processing are not completely understood, mainly due to technical difficulty in direct and precise detection of quantal neurotransmitter release at the single cell/synapse level. Currently, the research in our lab is primarily focused on (1) developing micro-/nano-scale analytical techniques for real-time monitoring of single cells and single synapses, (2) developing novel enzymatic/non-enzymatic sensing tools to measure the neurotransmitters and metabolites, and (3) exploring their use in the study of synaptic activities under physiological and pathological conditions.

Biography

2019-present, SIAT, CAS, Associate Professor
2018-2019, Institute of Biophysics, CAS, Associate Professor
2016-2018, Institute of Biophysics, CAS, Assistant Professor
2011-2016, Institute of Biophysics, CAS, PhD
2003-2008, Jilin University, MD

Selected publications

1. Chen P^#*, Shen X^#*, Zhao S^#, Liu Z, Zhu Q, Zhu T, Zhang S, Li Y, Mao L, Sun J* (2021) Measurement of Intact Quantal Packet of Transmitters Released from Single Nerve Terminal by Loose-Patch Amperometry. Biosens & Bioelectron (In press) (#First, *corresponding)
2. Hu H, Wang X, Li C, Hao J, Zhou Y, Yang X, Chen P*, Shen X*, Zhang S* (2021) Loss of Dysbindin Implicates Synaptic Vesicle Replenishment Dysregulation as a Potential Pathogenic Mechanism in Schizophrenia. Neuroscience 452 (*Corresponding)
3. Tao J, Zhu Y, Zhao S, Chen P, Zhang S*, Sun J*, Shen X* (2020). A novel approach with glass needle enclosed movable probe for in vivo real-time detection of glucose in cisternal cerebrospinal fluid. J Electroanal Chem 873 (*Corresponding)
4. Zhao S^#, Liu Z^#, Chen P*, Sun J*, Shen X* (2019). Non-enzymatic fructose sensing by platinum decorated graphene oxide nanocomposite. J Electroanal Chem 845 (*Corresponding)
5. Zhang S, Wang X, Wang X, Shen X, Sun J, Hu X, Chen P (2017). Sr2+ has low efficiency in regulating spontaneous release at the Calyx of Held synapses. Synapse 71(11)
6. Shen X, Ruan X, Zhao H* (2012). Stimulation of midbrain dopaminergic structures modifies firing rates of rat lateral habenula neurons. PLoS ONE 7(4)