Download Georg Zoidl PhD (Essen, Germany) Professor and Canada

Georg Zoidl
PhD (Essen, Germany)
Professor and Canada Research Chair
for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Email: [email protected]
Zoidl Biology
Research Interests:
Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Visual System, Synaptic Plasticity, Learning and Memory,
Imaging, Transgenic Animals, Electrophysiology, Functional Genomics, Neurological Disorders
Research Focus: Function(s) of electrical synapses in health and disease
Electrical synapses (or Gap junctions) comprise channels that allow the direct exchange of small
metabolites as well as the transmission of ions for propagating electrical currents. They are
formed by two families of proteins, collectively termed connexins (Cx) or pannexins (Panx). The
activity of this synapses can be regulated by molecular composition, transport, at the level of
membrane voltage, pH, phosphorylation and biochemical signals. This leaves a rich potential for
regulation of junctional conductance, directionality and molecular specificity. Arguably, the
potential capability to synchronize, regulate or restrict the flow of information is the most
exciting role of gap junctional communication during neural development, in the adult nervous
system and under pathological conditions.
Historically, the role of electrical synapses was underestimated and all complex and higher brain
functions attributed to chemical synapses. This view has changed substantially during the last
few years due to novel findings demonstrating that electrical synapses can modulate the
synchronization of neuronal activities needed for memory consolidation, thus linking the activity
of electrical synapses to higher brain functions. Furthermore, a role in inherited human diseases
has been demonstrated and accruing evidence suggest a prominent role in epilepsy,
schizophrenia, ischemia and cancer.
My group addresses the functional role of electrical communication using the zebrafish visual
system and the mouse hippocampus as experimental models for neuronal networks and synaptic
plasticity. We start from the molecular characterization of electrical synapse proteins in vitro to
the development of animal models for functional analysis in vivo. Electrophysiological tools,
high-end multiphoton imaging of the living organisms and behavioral tests are used to answer
the question how these communication pathways contribute and interact to form a functional
nervous system. In summary, work performed by my group is highly interdisciplinary and open
for students with different backgrounds in the Life Sciences, Health and Engineering with a
strong interest in basic and biomedical research.
Sample Publications:
Georg Zoidl, Rolf Dermietzel: Gap junctions in inherited human diseases, PFLUGERS ARCHEUR J. PHYSIOL, vol 460, no 2: 451-466, 2010.
Audrey Turchinovich, Georg Zoidl, Rolf Dermietzel: Non-viral siRNA delivery into the mouse
retina in vivo, BMC Ophthalmol. Vol 10, no 1: 25-50, 2010.
Daniel Hinkerohe, Dirk Smikalia, Andreas Schoebel, Aiden Haghikia, Georg Zoidl, Claus G.
Haase, Uwe Schiegel, Pedro M. Faustmann: Dexamethasone prevents LPS-induced microglial
activation and astroglial impairment in an experimental bacterial meningitis co-culture model.
BRAIN RES, vol. 1329, 45-54, 2010.
Christina Gründken, Julian Hanske, Stephanie Wengel, Wiebke Reuter, Amr Abdulazim, Valey
I. Shestopalov, Rolf Dermietzel, Georg Zoidl, Nora Prochnow: Unified patch clam protocol for
the characterization of Pannexin 1 channels in isolated cells and acute brain slices. Metal
Finishing, vol 199, no. 1, 15-25, 2011.