Rongo Lab

Research Overview

Our research is focused on glutamate receptors, which are ligand-gated channels that mediate much of the excitatory communication between neurons in the brain. The trafficking of these receptors in neurons is thought underly synaptic plasticity, and their inappropriate activation is implicated in several diseases of the nervous system. A better understanding of these receptors will facilitate the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases attributable to neurodegeneration, and help us better understand the mechanisms behind learning and memory.

Contact Information

Waksman Institute
190 Frelinghuysen Road
Rongo Lab
Piscataway, NJ 08854
United States

Featured Publications

Complete list of publications: [Pubmed]

The Functions of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System in Multicellular Animals

The major finding of this research is that the Ubiquitin Proteosome System (UPS) plays major, unexpected roles in regulating AMPAR trafficking and organismal lifespan in response to growth factor signaling.  Our findings shed light both on the mechanisms by which neurons remodel synapses in response to nervous system activity, and on the molecular and cellular basis of neurological disorders associated with UPS dysfunction.

            Multiple E3 Ubiquitin Ligases Regulate AMPAR Trafficking. 

GF signalling regulates the aggregation of Poly(Q)40∷YFP

Current Lab Members

Principal Investigator
  • Waksman Person
    Dr. Christopher Rongo

    rongo@waksman.rutgers.edu

    Chris Rongo is a Principal Investigator in the Waksman Institute, Professor and Vice Chair of the Rutgers Department of Genetics . He studies molecular genetics of synapse formation and plasticity in C. elegans. A current focus in his lab is on understanding three areas of neurophysiology: how the transport and dynamics of mitochondria are mediated along axons and dendrites, as well as at synapses; how neurons, synapses, and neuronal mitochondria respond to hypoxic stress (e.g., ischemic stroke); the functions of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) in neurons and its role in cellular aging.

Research Faculty
  • Dr. Kishore Joshi
    Dr. Kishore Joshi

    kishore.joshi@rutgers.edu

Research Associates
  • Waksman Person
    Dr. Eunchan Park

    eunchan.park@rutgers.edu

  • Dr. Mehul Vora
    Dr. Mehul Vora

    mehulv@waksman.rutgers.edu

Postdoctoral Fellows
  • Waksman Person
    Dr. Nathaly Salazar-Vasquez

    salazarv@waksman.rutgers.edu

Lab Researchers
  • Waksman Person
    Dr. Nanci Kane

    nkane@waksman.rutgers.edu

Undergraduate Students
  • Waksman Person
    Arul Duggimpudi
  • Waksman Person
    Aparna Prashar
  • Waksman Person
    Raphaella Ranjo
  • Waksman Person
    Neil Shah