Welcome to the Ganguly Lab

The overall goal of our lab is to identify conserved molecular signals regulating the trafficking of proteins from their site of synthesis (in the ER-Golgi network) to specific sub-cellular compartments, where they function. This process is critical for proper cellular function of polarized epithelial cells such as neurons. Proteins synthesized in the neuronal cell body travel along the length of the axon to morphologically specialized distal structures called pre-synapses. These transported proteins play a critical role in neuronal communication at synapses and are essential for both innate and learned behaviors. Defects in axonal transport and synaptic communication are often seen across neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Our lab uses patient derived human neurons (iNeurons) as well as murine models of neuronal disorders to define changes in axonal trafficking. We combine high resolution live-imaging techniques that quantify axonal trafficking with whole-cell/optical electrophysiology to determine associated changes in synaptic transmission.

Lab Members