Kathlyn Gan
Assistant Professor
Campus
UTSC
CSB Appointment
Full
Research Areas
Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, Physiology
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University, 2021
Ph.D., Simon Fraser University, 2015
A.R.C.T., Royal Conservatory of Music, 2003
Primary Undergraduate Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Graduate Programs
Cell & Systems Biology
Research Description
Synapses, the unitary connections between neurons that enable information processing and memory storage, decline in number and function as we age. This loss of synaptic connectivity weakens neural circuits and networks, leading to cognitive impairment and increasing the risk of disease. To help develop effective therapeutic strategies for neurodegeneration, our lab studies molecular pathways that regulate synapse formation and function and harnesses them to restore synaptic connectivity in the aging brain. In particular, we are investigating how specific regenerative factors, found enriched in young blood, promote synapse formation and function in human neurons. Our lab combines approaches in stem cell biology and neuronal induction, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, recombinant protein biochemistry, electrophysiology, and high-resolution microscopy to pursue these research goals.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
Department of Cell & Systems Biology
University of Toronto
1265 Military Trail
Scarborough, ON M1C 1A4
Canada
Publications
2020
SPARCL1 Promotes Excitatory But Not Inhibitory Synapse Formation and Function Independent of Neurexins and Neuroligins
Gan KJ, Südhof TC
2020, The Journal of Neuroscience, 10.1523/jneurosci.0454-20.2020
GSK3β Impairs KIF1A Transport in a Cellular Model of Alzheimer’s Disease but Does Not Regulate Motor Motility at S402
Gan K, Akram A, Blasius T, Ramser E, Budaitis B, Gabrych D, Verhey K, Silverman M
2020, eneuro, 10.1523/eneuro.0176-20.2020
2019
Specific factors in blood from young but not old mice directly promote synapse formation and NMDA-receptor recruitment
Gan KJ, Südhof TC
2019, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 10.1073/pnas.1902672116
Neuromodulator Signaling Bidirectionally Controls Vesicle Numbers in Human Synapses
Patzke C, Brockmann MM, Dai J, Gan KJ, Grauel MK, Fenske P, Liu Y, Acuna C, Rosenmund C, Südhof TC
2019, Cell, 10.1016/j.cell.2019.09.011
2016
Imaging organelle transport in primary hippocampal neurons treated with amyloid-β oligomers
Gan KJ, Silverman MA
2016, , 10.1016/bs.mcb.2015.06.012
2015
Dendritic and axonal mechanisms of Ca2+ elevation impair BDNF transport in Aβ oligomer–treated hippocampal neurons
Gan KJ, Silverman MA, Holzbaur E
2015, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 10.1091/mbc.e14-12-1612
2014
Atlas stumbled: Kinesin light chain-1 variant E triggers a vicious cycle of axonal transport disruption and amyloid-β generation in Alzheimer’s disease
Gan KJ, Morihara T, Silverman MA
2014, BioEssays, 10.1002/bies.201400131
2013
Amyloid-β oligomers induce tau-independent disruption of BDNF axonal transport via calcineurin activation in cultured hippocampal neurons
Ramser EM, Gan KJ, Decker H, Fan EY, Suzuki MM, Ferreira ST, Silverman MA, Forscher P
2013, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 10.1091/mbc.e12-12-0858
2010
Thyroid hormone accelerates opsin expression during early photoreceptor differentiation and induces opsin switching in differentiated TRα-expressing cones of the salmonid retina
Gan KJ, Novales Flamarique I
2010, Developmental Dynamics, 10.1002/dvdy.22392
2009
Thyroid Hormone Induces a Time-Dependent Opsin Switch in the Retina of Salmonid Fishes
Cheng CL, Gan KJ, Flamarique IN
2009, Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 10.1167/iovs.08-2713