Shigeki Watanabe

Shigeki Watanabe is an Associate Professor of Cell Biology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research focuses on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic transmission and plasticity. He leads the Watanabe Lab, which develops innovative electron microscopy techniques, such as 'flash-and-freeze' and correlative super-resolution imaging, to study ultrastructural changes in neurons with millisecond resolution. Key research areas include synaptic vesicle recycling, synaptic proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases, and trans-synaptic organization of neurotransmitter receptors.

His work bridges static electron microscopy with dynamic cellular processes, revealing mechanisms like ultrafast endocytosis and transient docking of vesicles. The lab explores how synaptic dysfunction contributes to neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, with a focus on proteins like LRRK2. Collaborations include studies on synaptotagmin function, BAR domain proteins, and glutamate receptor trafficking.

Publications highlight advancements in understanding vesicle dynamics, endocytic pathways, and protein sorting at synapses. The lab’s techniques enable unprecedented insights into millisecond-scale synaptic events, advancing knowledge of neural circuit function and disease mechanisms.