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

Akhtar MW, Raingo J, Nelson ED, Montgomery RL, Olson EN, Kavalali ET, Monteggia LM (2009). Histone deacetylases 1 and 2 form a developmental switch that controls excitatory synapse maturation and function. The Journal of Neuroscience 29: 8288-8297.

Monteggia LM, Kavalali ET (2009). Rett Syndrome and the impact of MeCP2 associated transcriptional mechanisms on neurotransmission. Biological Psychiatry 65: 204-210.

Espinosa F, Kavalali ET (2009). NMDA receptor activation by spontaneous glutamatergic neurotransmission. Journal of Neurophysiology 101: 2290-2296.

Wasser C, Kavalali ET (2009). Leaky synapses: Regulation of spontaneous neurotransmission in central synapses. Neuroscience 158:177-188.

Atasoy D, Ertunc M, Moulder KL, Blackwell J, Chung C, Su J, Kavalali ET (2008). Spontaneous and evoked glutamate release activates two populations of NMDA receptors with limited overlap. The Journal of Neuroscience 28: 10151-10166.

Nelson ED, Kavalali ET, Monteggia LM (2008). Activity-dependent suppression of miniature neurotransmission through the regulation of DNA methylation. The Journal of Neuroscience 28: 395-406.

Kavalali ET (2007). Multiple vesicle recycling pathways in central synapses and their impact on neurotransmission. The Journal of Physiology (Lond.) 585: 669-679.

Wasser C, Ertunc M, Liu X, Kavalali ET (2007). Cholesterol-dependent balance between evoked and spontaneous synaptic vesicle recycling. The Journal of Physiology (Lond.) 579: 413-429.

Ertunc M, Sara Y, Chung C, Atasoy D, Virmani T, Kavalali ET (2007). Fast synaptic vesicle reuse slows the rate of synaptic depression in the CA1 region of hippocampus. The Journal of Neuroscience 27: 341-354.

Chung C, Kavalali ET (2006). Seeking a function for spontaneous neurotransmission. Nature Neuroscience 9:  989-990.

Nelson ED, Kavalali ET, Monteggia LM (2006). MeCP2-dependent transcriptional repression regulates excitatory neurotransmission. Current Biology 16: 710-716.

Virmani T, Atasoy D, Kavalali ET (2006). Synaptic vesicle recycling adapts to chronic changes in activity. The Journal of Neuroscience 26: 2197-2206.

Virmani T, Ertunc M, Sara Y, Mozhayeva M, Kavalali ET (2005). Phorbol esters target the activity-dependent recycling pool and spare spontaneous vesicle recycling. The Journal of Neuroscience 25:10922-10929.

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

  Current Lab Staff                   Top

Rooms NB4.114
Telephone: 214-648-1257

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