Research


Molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration

Dr. MH Sham

Dr Cheung, Zelda Hiu Yee (張曉宜)

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry

BSc, PhD (Hong Kong)

Contact
Email: zelda@hku.hk
Tel: (852) 2819 2809
Office: L3-79, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong

Research Opportunities:

We are seeking postgraduate students who are interested in understanding the molecular control of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. Prior knowledge and experience in molecular and cellular biology techniques will be a plus.

Interested candidate please send a CV to Dr. Zelda Cheung (zelda@hku.hk).

Postgraduate Research Projects Available:

  • Molecular mechanisms of autophagy regulation in neurons
  • The role of aberrant autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases

Research Description:

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved homeostatic cellular process for disposal of organelles and cytoplasmic contents. Macroautophagy is the best characterized form of autophagy and involves the formation of a double-membrane vesicle known as autophagosome, where cargos targeted for the autophagic pathway are encircled by an extending lipid bilayer called isolation membrane/phagophore. Autophagosomes then dispose its content by fusing with lysosomes to form an autolysosomes, where the lysosomal enzymes will degrade the enclosed cargo. Autophagosomes are typically rapidly cleared in normal neurons, but recent studies revealed the accumulation of autophagosomes in diseased brains in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease patients. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular pathways that are specifically associated with autophagy deregulation during neurodegenerative diseases, in addition to deciphering the role of autophagy in neuronal development. 

autophagy

Publications, Achievements, and Grants:

Selected Publications:

  • Lai KO, Wong AS, Cheung MC, Xu P, Liang Z, Lok KC, Xie H, Palko ME, Yung WH, Tessarollo L, Cheung ZH, Ip NY. (2012) TrkB phosphorylation by Cdk5 is required for activity-dependent structural plasticity and spatial memory. Nat Neurosci. 15(11):1506-15.
  • Wong ASL, Lee RH, Cheung AY, Yeung PK, Chung SK, *Cheung ZH, *Ip NY. (2011) Cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of endophilin B1 mediates induced autophagy in Parkinson’s disease models. Nature Cell Biology. 13(5):568-79. *Co-corresponding author
  • Cheung ZH, Ip NY. (2011) Autophagy deregulation in neurodegenerative diseases – recent advances and future perspectives. J Neurochem. Invited Review. 118(3):317-25 3.
  • Cheung ZH, Ip NY. (2009) The emerging role of autophagy in Parkinson’s disease. Mol Brain. 2(1): 29.
  • Wan J, Cheung AY, Fu WY, Wu C, Zhang M, Mobley WC, Cheung ZH, Ip NY. (2008) Endophilin B1 as a novel regulator of nerve growth factor/ TrkA trafficking and neurite outgrowth. J Neurosci. 28(36):9002-12.
  • Cheung ZH, Gong K, Ip NY. (2008) Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 supports neuronal survival through phosphorylation of Bcl-2. J Neurosci. 28(19):4872-7. Paper of the week.
  • Cheung ZH, Chin WH, Chen Y, Ng YP, Ip NY. (2007) Cdk5 is involved in BDNF-stimulated dendritic growth in hippocampal neurons. PLoS Biol. 5(4):e63.