Colorado State University

Soham Chanda

Soham.Chanda@colostate.edu

Office: Molecular Radiological Bioscie 279

Phone: 9704917004

Education:

• PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/sohamchanda

About

Our research objectives fall in the intersection of basic and translational neuroscience. We broadly study various aspects of the synapse formation and maturation processes, including cellular mechanisms that modulate synapse properties, molecular factors that define synaptic specification, and pathogenic effects of disease-associated genetic mutations that impair synapse function. We address these questions using animal models and human neurons derived from embryonic or induced pluripotent stem (ES or iPS) cells. Our studies combine interdisciplinary approaches, including genetic manipulation, electrophysiology, high-resolution imaging, molecular and biochemical techniques, to gain mechanistic insights into human synapse development and neurological disorders.

Publications

• “Presynaptic trafficking of Glutamate Decarboxylase isoforms is dispensable for basal GABAergic neurotransmission” Benner O*, Karr CH*, Bartol TM, Al-Hanbali O, Xu-Friedman MA, and Chanda S. J Neurosci, 2026 PMID: 41249058
• “The Shab family potassium channels are highly enriched at the presynaptic terminals of human neurons” Benner O, Karr CH, Quintero-Gonzalez A, Tamkun MM, and Chanda S. J Biol Chem, 2025 PMID: 39880095
• “Gephyrin promotes autonomous assembly and synaptic localization of GABAergic postsynaptic components without presynaptic GABA release” Carricaburu E, Benner O, Burlingham SR, Dos Santos Passos C, Hobaugh N, Karr CH, and Chanda S. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2024 PMID: 38889143
• “Multiple N-linked glycosylation sites critically modulate the synaptic abundance of Neuroligin isoforms” Benner O*, Cast TP*, Minamide LS, Lenninger Z, Bamburg JR, and Chanda S. J Biol Chem, 2023 PMID: 37865312
• “Induction of synapse formation by de novo neurotransmitter synthesis” Burlingham SR*, Wong NF*, Peterkin L*, Lubow L, Dos Santos Passos C, Benner O, Ghebrial M, Cast TP, Xu-Friedman MA#, Südhof TC#, and Chanda S#. Nat Commun, 2022 PMID: 35650274
• “An autism-associated mutation impairs Neuroligin-4 glycosylation and enhances excitatory synaptic transmission in human neurons” Cast TP, Boesch DJ, Smyth K, Shaw AE, Ghebrial M, and Chanda S. J Neurosci, 2021 PMID: 33268543
• “Direct reprogramming of human neurons identifies MARCKSL1 as a pathogenic mediator of valproic acid-induced teratogenicity” Chanda S#, Ang CE, Lee QY, Ghebrial M, Haag D, Shibuya Y, Wernig M, and Südhof TC#. Cell Stem Cell, 2019 PMID: 31155484