Biosketch              Top  

As an undergraduate Dr. Kavalali studied Electrical Engineering at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. In 1995, he completed his Ph.D. in Rutgers University where he worked with Dr. Mark Plummer. He joined Center for Basic Neuroscience in September 1999 following completion of his postdoctoral studies with Dr. Richard W. Tsien in Stanford University at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

Research                    Top

His research interests are focused on physiological properties of central presynaptic terminals. His laboratory uses electrical and optical recording techniques to investigate the mechanisms that govern synaptic vesicle recycling. He also studies the role of neuronal activity in regulation of spatial organization and maturation of individual synaptic terminals.

Recent Publications               Top   

Primary Research Articles

Deák F., Shin, O. H., Kavalali, E. T., and Südhof T.C. (2006) Structural determinants of synaptobrevin 2 function in synaptic vesicle fusion. J. Neurosci. 26: 6669-6676.

Nelson, E. D., Kavalali, E. T., and Monteggia, L. M. (2006) MeCP2-dependent transcriptional repression regulates excitatory neurotransmission. Curr. Biol. 16: 710-716.

Virmani, T., Atasoy, D., and Kavalali, E. T. (2006) Synaptic vesicle recycling adapts to chronic changes in activity. J. Neurosci. 26: 2197-2206.

Virmani, T., Erutunc, M., Sara, Y., and Kavalali, E. T. (2005) Phorbol esters target the activity-dependent recycling pool and spare spontaneous vesicle recycling. J. Neurosci. 25: 10922-10929.

Sara Y., Virmani T., Deák F., Liu X., Kavalali E.T.  2005. An isolated pool of vesicles recycles at rest and drives spontaneous neurotransmission. Neuron  45: 563-573

Sara Y., Biederer T., Atasoy D., Chubykin A., Mozhayeva M.G., Südhof T.C., Kavalali E.T.  2005. Selective capability of SynCAM and Neuroligin for functional synapse assembly. The Journal of Neuroscience 25: 260-270

Deák F., Schoch S., Liu X., Südhof T.C., Kavalali E.T. 2004. Synaptobrevin is essential for fast synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Nature Cell Biology 6: 1102-1108.  

Mozhayeva M.G., Matos M.F., Liu X., and Kavalali E.T. 2004. Minimum essential factors required for vesicle mobilization at hippocampal synapses. The Journal of Neuroscience 24: 1680-1688.

Virmani T., Han W., Liu X., Südhof T.C. and Kavalali E.T. 2003. Synaptotagmin 7 splice variants differentially regulate synaptic vesicle recycling. EMBO Journal 22: 5347-5357.

Biederer, T., Sara, Y, Mozhayeva, M., Atasoy, D., Liu, X., Kavalali, E.T., and Südhof, T.C. (2002) SynCAM, A synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly. Science 297, 1525-1531.

Sara, Y., Mozhayeva, M.G, Liu, X. and Kavalali E. T. 2002. Fast vesicle recycling supports neurotransmission during sustained stimulation at hippocampal synapses. The Journal of Neuroscience 22: 1608-1617.

Mozhayeva, M.G, Sara, Y., Liu, X. and Kavalali E. T. 2002. Development of vesicle pools during maturation of hippocampal synapses. The Journal of Neuroscience 22: 654-665.

Schoch, S., Deak, F., Königstorfer, A., Mozhayeva, M., Sara, Y., Südhof, T.C. and Kavalali E.T. 2001. SNARE function analyzed in synaptobrevin/VAMP knockout mice. Science 294:1117-1122.

Current Lab Staff                   Top

Rooms NB4.214
Telephone: 214-648-1257

Postdoctoral

Mert Ertunc MD, PhD                                   Mert.Ertunc@UTSouthwestern.edu

Felipe Espinosa-Becerra DVM, PhD                Felipe.Espinosa-Becerra@UTSouthwestern.edu

Students

Past Lab Staff 

Marina Mozhayeva PhD                             mmozhayeva@hotmail.com  

Tuhin Virmani PhD                                   Tuhin.Virmani@UTSouthwestern.edu