Won Chan Oh, PhD
Assistant Professor
Contact Information:
University of Colorado Denver
Department of Pharmacology
Mail Stop 8303, RC1-North
12800 East 19th Ave
Aurora CO 80045
Phone:
Fax: (303) 724-3663
E-mail: wonchan.oh@cuanschutz.edu
Office: RC1-North, P18-6130
Despite recent advances in our understanding of the formation and plasticity of cortical circuits mediated by excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmitters, how neuromodulators such as dopamine and serotonin regulate neuronal wiring in a developing circuit and ultimately influence an animal’s behavior remain largely unknown. Our goal is to understand at the synaptic and circuit level how neuromodulators fine-tune initial establishment of neuronal circuitry during development and whether early dysregulation of neuromodulatory signaling gives rise to the pathogeneses of neurological disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and depression. We address these questions with cell-type and synapse-specific resolution by utilizing cutting-edge multidisciplinary techniques that include: in vivo and slice two-photon imaging, two-photon two-color uncaging, slice electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and mouse behavior.
Our lab is interested in recruiting highly motivated scientists at all levels. We are using a broad cellular neurophysiological approach towards understanding the functional roles of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the plasticity of cortical circuits. Previous experience with light-microscopy and/or electrophysiology is preferred, although we are seeking researchers with a broad range of expertise, including cellular and molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, and systems biology.
- Sutton, L.P., Orlandi, C., Song, C., Oh, W.C., Muntean, B., Xie, K., Filippini, A., Xie, X., Satterfield, R., Yaeger, J.D. W., Renner, K.J., Young, S.M., Xu, B., Kwon, H.-B., and Martemyanov, K.A. (2018) Orphan receptor GPR158 controls stress-induced depression. eLife2018;7:e33273
- Sigler, A.*, Oh, W.C.*, Imig, C.*, Altas, B., Kawabe, H., Cooper, B. H., Kwon, H.-B., Lee, J.-S., Brose, N. (2017) Formation and maintenance of functional spines in the absence of presynaptic glutamate release. Neuron94:304-311. *co-first[F1000 Prime Recommended]
- Lee, D., Creed, M., Jung, K., Stefanelli, T., Wendler, D.J., Oh, W.C., Mignocchi, N.L., Lüscher, C., and Kwon, H.-B. (2017) Temporally precise labeling and control of neuromodulatory circuits in mammalian brain. Nat. Methods14:495-503 *co-first
- Oh, W.C., Lutzu, S., Castillo, P.E., and Kwon, H.-B. (2016) De novo synaptogenesis induced by GABA in the developing mouse cortex. Science353, 1037-1040.[Jansen, L. (2017) Making Connections With GABA. Current Literature In Basic Science, Epilepsy Currents] [Lewis, S. (2016) Neuronal development: Signalling synaptogenesis. Research Highlight, Nature Reviews Neuroscience]
- Kim, T.*, Oh, W.C.*, Choi, J.H., and Kwon, H.-B. (2016) Emergence of functional subnetworks in layer 2/3 cortex induced by sequential spikes in vivo. PNAS113:E1372-81. *co-first
- Villa, K.L., Berry, K.P., Subramanian, J., Cha, J.W., Oh, W.C., Kwon, H.-B., Kubota, Y., So, P.T.C. and Nedivi, E. (2016) Inhibitory synapses are repeatedly assembled and removed at persistent sites in vivo. Neuron89:1-14.
- Oh, W.C., Parajuli, L.K., and Zito, K. (2015) Heterosynaptic structural plasticity on local dendritic segments of hippocampal CA1 neurons. Cell Reports10:162-169. [F1000 Prime Recommended]
- Oh, W.C., Hill, T.C., and Zito, K. (2013) Synapse-specific and size-dependent mechanisms of spine structural plasticity accompanying synaptic weakening. PNAS110:E305-E312.
- Hamilton, A.M., Oh, W.C., Vega-Ramirez, H., Patrick, G.N., and Zito, K. (2012) Activity-dependent growth of new dendritic spines is regulated by the proteasome. Neuron74:1023-1030.
- Woods, G.F., Oh, W.C., Boudewyn, L.C., Mikula, S.K., and Zito, K. (2012) Loss of PSD-95 Enrichment is not a Prerequisite for Spine Retraction. J Neurosci31:12129-12138.