Pam Vanderzalm

Background

Dr. Vanderzalm joined the Biology Department in 2013 where she teaches courses in development, cell biology, genetics, neuroscience, and molecular biology. She originally hails from Rochester, NY.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Vanderzalm is broadly trained in developmental biology and neuroscience, utilizing genetic, molecular and cell biology techniques. Her Ph.D. work investigated mechanisms of neuronal migration and axon outgrowth and her postdoctoral training uncovered new genes required for growth control in epithelial tissues. Dr. Vanderzalm’s current research unites these interests by focusing on growth control during the process of synaptic development in the genetic model organism, Drosophila melanogaster (more commonly known as the fruit fly).

Research Interests

Dr. Vanderzalm’s research lab is interested in the development of the nervous system and focuses on growth control during synaptic maturation in the genetic model organism, Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly). Due to the evolutionary similarities between the human and fly genome, what we learn in the fly is applicable to how those genes would function in a human. Currently, the lab is studying inhibitors of the synaptic growth-promoting Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) Pathway. We've identified an evolutionarily conserved gene, Tao, which disrupts normal growth and development of synapses. TAOK1, the human homolog of Drosophila Tao, is implicated in Autism Spectrum Disorder in humans, highlighting the importance of proper synaptic growth in this spectrum of disorders.

Synapses are the connections between neurons and their target cells (usually other neurons or muscles) that allow information to be passed along via small chemicals called neurotransmitters. Synapses mediate thinking, sensation, reflexes, hormone release, learning and memory, muscle contraction, and are essential for both brain activity and control of peripheral tissues. Development of synaptic structures to mediate this flow of information (synaptogenesis) requires signaling from neurons to their target cells, and from their target cells back to the neurons. My lab uses the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of Drosophila as a model system for studying the growth and maintenance of synapses.

My lab identified the gene Tao as a novel regulator of synaptic growth, showing that loss of Tao function results in larger than normal synapses that function half as well as normal ones. This suggests that Tao’s normal role in the cell is to restrict growth of the NMJ while promoting proper connectivity. We have identified partners for Tao that act in a kinase cascade and are currently focused on determining how the cascade inhibits BMP signaling and restricts growth of developing NMJs.

We employ a range of techniques, from molecular genetic gene disruption techniques (CRISPR and RNAi), to dissection and immunofluorescence, to behavioral assays, in our attempt to elucidate gene function during synapse growth and maturation.

Education

B.A. Biology and Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis
Ph.D. Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
Postdoctoral training, University of Chicago

Courses Taught

Dr. Vanderzalm teaches courses in the introductory biology sequence as well as upper division courses in Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Neuroscience, and molecular techniques. Her upper division courses emphasize an experimental approach to understanding biological phenomena. Couses taught:

BL 1500 Principles of Biology 1
BL 1600 Principles of Biology 2
BL 2130 Genetics
BL 3010 Cell Biology
BL 3020 Developmental Biology
BL 4010 Cellular Neuroscience
BL 4130 Neurogenetics and Disease
BL 4700 Molecular Methods
BL 4810 Biology Seminar

Publications

Leier HC, Foden AJ, Jindal DA, Wilkov, AJ, Van der Linden Costello P, Vanderzalm PJ, Coutinho-Budd JC, Tabuchi M, Broihier HT. (2025) Glia control experience-dependent plasticity in an olfactory critical period. eLife, 13:RP100989

Politano SF#*, Salemme RR#*, Ashley J#, Lopez JA*, Bakula TA*, Puhalla KA*, Quinn JP*, Juszczak MJ*, Phillip LK*, Carrillo RA, Vanderzalm PJ. (2019) Tao negatively regulates BMP signaling during neuromuscular junction development in Drosophila. Developmental Neurobiology, 79(4), 335-349. *Undergraduate researcher; #co-first authors

Hoover KM, Gratz SJ, Herrmann KA, Qi N, Liu Y, Perry-Richardson JJ, Vanderzalm PJ, O’Connor-Giles KM, Broihier HT. (2019) The calcium channel subunit a2d-3 organizes synapses via an activity-dependent and autocrine BMP signaling pathway. Nature Communications, 10 (5575)

Yee WB, Delaney PD*, Vanderzalm PJ, Ramachandran S, and Fehon RG. (2019) The CAF-1 complex couples Hippo pathway target gene expression and DNA replication. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 30 (23), 2929-2942. PMID: 31553691 *Undergraduate researcher

Xu J, Vanderzalm PJ, Ludwig M, Su T, Tokamov SA, Fehon RG. (2018) Yorkie Functions at the Cell Cortex to Promote Myosin Activation in a Non-transcriptional Manner. Developmental Cell 46, 271-284.

Boggiano JC#, Vanderzalm PJ#, Fehon RG. (2011) Tao-1 phosphorylates Hippo/MST kinases to regulate the Hippo-Salvador-Warts tumor suppressor pathway. Developmental Cell 21, 888-895. #co-first authors

Vanderzalm PJ, Pandey A, Hurwitz ME, Bloom L, Horvitz RH, Garriga G. (2009) C. elegans CARMIL negatively regulates UNC-73/Trio function during neuronal development. Development 136(7), 1201-10.