Publications
Research Articles
Boero, L, Wu H, Zak JD, Masset P, Pashakhanloo F, Jayakumar S, Tolooshams, B, Ba D, Murthy VN (2025) Perception and neural representation of intermittent odor stimuli in mice. bioRxiv 2025.02.12.637969 [pdf]
Belonio KC**, Haile ES**, Fyke Z, Vivona L, Konanur V, Tulabandhula T, Zak JD (2025) Amplification of olfactory transduction currents implements sparse stimulus encoding Journal of Neuroscience e2008242025 [pdf] **equal contribution
Fyke Z, Johansson R, Scott AI, Wiley D, Chelsky D, Zak JD, Nakouzi NA, Koster KP, Yoshii A (2024) Reduction of Neuroinflammation and Seizures in a Mouse Model of CLN1 Batten Disease using the Small Molecule Enzyme Mimetic, N-Tert-Butyl Hydroxylamine. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 143(1-2):108537 [pdf]
Zak JD†, Reddy G, Konanur V, Murthy VN (2024) Distinct information conveyed to the olfactory bulb by feedforward input from the nose and feedback from the cortex. Nature Communications 15:3268 [pdf] †corresponding author
> Featured in UIC TodayZavatone-Veth JA, Masset P, Tong WL, Zak JD, Murthy VN, Pehlevan C (2023) Neural circuits for fast Poisson compressed sensing in the olfactory bulb. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 36 [pdf]
Zak JD, Schoppa NE (2022) Neurotransmitter regulation rather than cell-intrinsic properties shapes the high-pass signal filtering properties of olfactory bulb glomeruli. Journal of Physiology 600.2:393-417 [pdf]
Zak JD†, Schoppa NE (2021) Optical manipulations reveal strong reciprocal inhibition but limited recurrent excitation within olfactory bulb glomeruli. eNeuro 0311-21.2021 [pdf] †corresponding author
Zak JD†, Reddy G, Vergassola M, Murthy VN (2020) Antagonistic odor interactions in olfactory sensory neurons are widespread in freely breathing mice. Nature Communications 11:3350 [pdf] †corresponding author
> Harvard MCB Press Release
> Harvard Brain Science InitiativeGire DH**, Zak JD**, Bourne JN, Goodson N, Schoppa NE (2019) Balancing extrasynaptic excitation and synaptic inhibition within olfactory bulb glomeruli. eNeuro 6(4)0247-19.2019 [pdf] **equal contribution
Albeanu DF, Provost AC, Agarwal P, Soucy E, Zak JD, Murthy VN (2018) Olfactory marker protein (OMP) regulates formation and refinement of the olfactory glomerular map. Nature Communications 9:5073 [pdf]
Zak JD, Grimaud J, Li R-C, Lin C-C, Murthy VN (2018) Calcium-activated chloride channels clamp odor-evoked spike activity in olfactory receptor neurons. Scientific Reports 8:10600 [pdf]
Reddy G**, Zak JD**, Vergassola M, Murthy VN (2018) Antagonism in olfactory receptor neurons and its implications for the perception of odor mixtures. eLife 7:e35958 [pdf] **equal contribution
> Harvard MCB Press ReleaseZak JD, Whitesell JD, Schoppa NE (2015) Metabotropic glutamate receptors promote disinhibition of olfactory bulb glomeruli that scales with input strength. Journal of Neurophysiology 113(6):1907-20 [pdf]
Gire DH, Franks KM, Zak JD, Tanaka KF, Whitesell JD, Mulligan AA, Hen R, Schoppa NE (2012) Mitral cells of the olfactory bulb are mainly excited through a multi-step signaling path. Journal of Neuroscience 32:2964-75 [pdf]
Zhang Z-W, Zak JD, Liu H (2010) MeCP2 is required for normal development of GABAergic circuits in the thalamus. Journal of Neurophysiology 103(5):2470-81 [pdf]
Reviews, Commentary, & Chapters
Saunders CJ, Zak JD (2024) "Chemical senses." In: Kirby ED, Glenn MJ, Sandstrom NJ, Williams CL, eds. Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience, 1e. Houston, TX: OpenStax, November 2024 [pdf]
Fyke Z, Belonio KC, Zak JD (2024) Shaping smell: Chloride currents dictate the kinetics of olfactory transduction. Journal of Physiology 602:4699-700 [pdf]
Zak JD (2022) Longitudinal imaging of individual olfactory sensory neurons in situ. Frontiers In Cellular Neuroscience fncel.2022.946816 [pdf]
Zak JD**, Wallace J**, Murthy VN (2020) How neuroscience labs can limit their environmental impact. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 21:347-8 [pdf] Featured on Journal Cover. **equal contribution
> Harvard MCB Press ReleaseZak JD (2016) A computational framework for temporal sharpening of stimulus input in the olfactory system. Journal of Neurophysiology 115(4):1749-51 [pdf]