Shuzo Sugita
PhD
Degrees: Ph.D.
Courses Taught : PSL450H1
Research Synopsis
Keywords: Exocytosis, SNARE, Munc18, syntaxin, CAPS1, V-ATPase.
Detailed Description: Dr. Sugita primary interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms of exocytosis from neuronal and immune cells with particular emphasis on the roles of Munc18, Munc13, CAPS1 and V-ATPase. Dr. Sugita uses PC12 cells and RBL-2H3 cells as cellular models for neuroendocrine cells and mast cells, respectively. Dr. Sugita also uses C. elegans as an in vivo model. Dr. Sugita is also generating conditional knockout mice for these proteins to analyze their functions in vitro and in vivo. Dr. Sugita also aims to elucidate the role of Munc18-1 in neuroprotection by revealing why Munc18-1 knockout in neurons causes severe neurodegeneration.
METHODS USED
Cell and tissue culture: Brain slice, C. elegans, embryonic stem cell, hippocampal cells, mast cell, neurons, PC12 cells.
Procedures: Brain slice, hippocampal cells, neurons, electrophysiology, HPLC, immunocytochemistry, in vitro electrophysiology, patch clamp, RIA, RT-PCR, siRNA, voltage clamp, western blot, PC12 cells, RBL-2H3 cells, mast cells, secretion assays
EQUIPMENT USED
Amplifier, analytical balances, benchtop centrifuge, blotting apparatus, calcium imaging system, confocal microscope, culture hood, culture incubators, electrophysiology rig, fluorescence microscope, gel apparatus, HPLC, low- and high-speed centrifuge, microwave oven, mini vortexer, real-time/thermocycler, setups for electropherosis, stirrer/hot plate, water baths, low and ultralow freezers
PRESENT TRAINEES
Seungmee Park
Na-Ryum Bin
Chang Jung
PRESENT COLLABORATIONS
Within the Department of Physiology:
Herbert Gaisano
Zhong-Ping Feng
Peter Carlen
Philippe Monnier
Hong-Shuo Sun
Mei Zhen
Outside the Department of Physiology:
Frederic Meunier, University of Queensland, Australia
Brett Collins, University of Queensland, Australia
Serigio Greenstein, Hospital for Sick Children
Liang Zhang, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Ikura Mitsuhiko, Department of Medical Biophysics, OCI/University of Toronto
Michael Tymianski, Department of Surgery, UHN/University of Toronto
Committee member/officer of national/international scientific organizations
List: Society of Neuroscience, American Society for Cell Biology, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
PRESENT GRANT COMMITTEES SERVED ON
Agency: CIHR
Committee: Cell Physiology
2nd stage reviewer for CIHR Foundation scheme grant
Recent Publications
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25795302