Person
Czopka, Tim
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Biography and Research Interest
I studied Biology and obtained my PhD in Neuroscience in 2009 from the Ruhr-University Bochum (Germany). Following my postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh (UK), I became a Principal Investigator in 2015 at the Technical University of Munich (Germany). In 2020 my group moved to University of Edinburgh (UK).
My lab aims to understand how oligodendrocytes communicate with neurons, and how these interactions affect the brain.
About 5% of all brain cells are undifferentiated oligodendrocyte precursor cells which tile the brain throughout life. These cells sense nervous system activity and represent the cellular source for new myelin during long-term development, plastic adaptations, and CNS regeneration. However, there are many more oligodendrocyte precursors than ever differentiate, but which still constantly communicate with surrounding neurons and other CNS cells. How this cell population can be triggered to produce new myelin, and how the non-myelinating oligoendrocytes affect nervous system function, remains unclear.
To address this, we use zebrafish as model organism and a wide range of complementary methods including high-resolution optical microscopy of live cell reporters, optophysiology and biomolecular sensor imaging, cellular genetic manipulations, and behavioural analysis.
My lab aims to understand how oligodendrocytes communicate with neurons, and how these interactions affect the brain.
About 5% of all brain cells are undifferentiated oligodendrocyte precursor cells which tile the brain throughout life. These cells sense nervous system activity and represent the cellular source for new myelin during long-term development, plastic adaptations, and CNS regeneration. However, there are many more oligodendrocyte precursors than ever differentiate, but which still constantly communicate with surrounding neurons and other CNS cells. How this cell population can be triggered to produce new myelin, and how the non-myelinating oligoendrocytes affect nervous system function, remains unclear.
To address this, we use zebrafish as model organism and a wide range of complementary methods including high-resolution optical microscopy of live cell reporters, optophysiology and biomolecular sensor imaging, cellular genetic manipulations, and behavioural analysis.
Non-Zebrafish Publications
Czopka T, von Holst A, ffrench-Constant C, Faissner A (2010) Regulatory mechanisms that mediate Tenascin C-dependent inhibition of oligodendrocyte precursor differentiation. J Neurosci 30(37): 12310-12322Czopka T, Hennen E, von Holst A, Faissner A (2009) Novel conserved oligodendrocyte surface epitope identified by monoclonal antibody 4860. Cell Tissue Res 338(2): 161-170
Czopka T, von Holst A, Schmidt G, ffrench-Constant C, Faissner A (2009) Tenascin C and Tenascin R similarly prevent the formation of myelin membranes in a RhoA-dependent manner, but antagonistically regulate the expression of myelin basic protein via a separate pathway. Glia 57(16): 1790-1801