Xin Zhou

Education
Fall 2004-present
Doctoral graduate student in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Medical University of South Carolina              
Charleston, SC

1995-1999
B.S. Pharmaceutical analysis.
ShenYang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China

Research Interests

My Interest is to study the role of M-channels in cell survival and differentiation. Intracellular K+ depletion is essential for activation of apoptotic cascade, and K+ channels also play a very important role in regulating neuronal differentiation. My research demonstrated that excessive K+ efflux, mediated by activation of M-channels, induced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons. I also found that inhibition of M-channel activity could affect inhibitory synapse formation and further regulate inhibitory neuronal differentiation and synaptogenisis in mouse embryonic stem cell derived neurons.