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Engin Ozkan

TitleAssociate Professor
InstitutionUniversity of Chicago
DepartmentBiochemistry and Molecular Biology
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    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    Email: eozkan@uchicago.edu

    Cell surface receptor proteins and secreted protein ligands determine the specific connectivity of cells which drives the development of complex systems and organs in multicellular organisms. My laboratory is interested in the biochemistry, signaling activity and interaction networks of proteins that are required for the development and function of nervous systems. Specifically, we are working on deciphering protein-protein interaction networks of the extracellular space required for axon guidance and pruning and synapse formation and validation using high-throughout methods. We study these proteins using a multi-disciplinary approach, including crystallography, cellular signaling assays and protein engineering strategies coupled to genetic modifications in model organisms.

    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Bilkent University, Ankara, TurkeyB.S.06/1999Molecular Biology & Genetics
    U. of Texas Southwestern Med Ctr, Dallas, TXPh.D.05/2006Molecular Biophysics
    Stanford University, Stanford, CAPostdoctoral06/2013Biochemistry
    Collapse awards and honors
    2016Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Neuroscience
    2015Klingenstein-Simons Neuroscience Fellow

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    R21EY036651     (GALLIO, MARCO)Sep 1, 2024 - Aug 31, 2027
    NIH
    Molecular design for circuit engineering in the Drosophila brain
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    R01NS139060     (OZKAN, ENGIN)Jun 4, 2024 - Apr 30, 2029
    NIH
    Mechanistic studies of molecular recognition and signaling of neuronal wiring receptors
    Role: Principal Investigator
    RF1MH114102     (DICKINSON, BRYAN)Aug 3, 2017 - Aug 2, 2021
    NIH
    Split RNA polymerases for sensitive, multidimensional analysis of intercellular PPIs at synapses
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    R01NS097161     (OZKAN, ENGIN)Mar 1, 2016 - Feb 28, 2021
    NIH
    Molecular Recognition Principles, Engineering and Function of Neural Wiring Receptors
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01NS028182     (ZINN, KAI G)Jan 1, 1990 - Mar 31, 2027
    NIH
    Control of neural circuit assembly by cell surface protein interactions
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Priest JM, Nichols EL, Smock RG, Hopkins JB, Mendoza JL, Meijers R, Shen K, Özkan E. Structural insights into the formation of repulsive netrin guidance complexes. Sci Adv. 2024 Feb 16; 10(7):eadj8083. PMID: 38363837; PMCID: PMC10871540.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    2. Eichel K, Uenaka T, Belapurkar V, Lu R, Cheng S, Pak JS, Taylor CA, Malenka R, Wernig M, Perrais D, Shen K, Südhof TC, Özkan E. Endocytosis in the axon initial segment maintains neuronal polarity. Nature. 2022 09; 609(7925):128-135. PMID: 35978188; PMCID: PMC9433327.
      Citations: 16     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    3. Wang J, Pak JS, Park Y, Roman CA, Thornton JW, Vaddadi N, Quilez S, Dumontier E, Cloutier JF, Özkan E. Molecular and structural basis of olfactory sensory neuron axon coalescence by Kirrel receptors. Cell Rep. 2021 11 02; 37(5):109940. PMID: 34731636; PMCID: PMC8628261.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    4. Cheng S, Özkan E. Finally on Track: Interactions of Off-Track with Plex-Sema Pathway and Glycosaminoglycans. Structure. 2020 05 05; 28(5):492-494. PMID: 32375057.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    5. Pak JS, DeLoughery ZJ, Wang J, Acharya N, Park Y, Jaworski A, Özkan E. NELL2-Robo3 complex structure reveals mechanisms of receptor activation for axon guidance. Nat Commun. 2020 03 20; 11(1):1489. PMID: 32198364; PMCID: PMC7083938.
      Citations: 20     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    6. Cheng S, Park Y, Kurleto JD, Jeon M, Zinn K, Thornton JW, Özkan E. Family of neural wiring receptors in bilaterians defined by phylogenetic, biochemical, and structural evidence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 05 14; 116(20):9837-9842. PMID: 31043568; PMCID: PMC6525511.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    7. Ranaivoson FM, Turk LS, Ozgul S, Kakehi S, von Daake S, Lopez N, Trobiani L, De Jaco A, Denissova N, Demeler B, Montelione GT, Comoletti D, Özkan E. A Proteomic Screen of Neuronal Cell-Surface Molecules Reveals IgLONs as Structurally Conserved Interaction Modules at the Synapse. Structure. 2019 06 04; 27(6):893-906.e9. PMID: 30956130; PMCID: PMC6609445.
      Citations: 23     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    8. Stedden CG, Menegas W, Zajac AL, Williams AM, Cheng S, Horne-Badovinac S, Özkan E. Planar-Polarized Semaphorin-5c and Plexin A Promote the Collective Migration of Epithelial Cells in Drosophila. Curr Biol. 2019 03 18; 29(6):908-920.e6. PMID: 30827914; PMCID: PMC6424623.
      Citations: 20     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    9. Cheng S, Ashley J, Kurleto JD, Lobb-Rabe M, Park YJ, Carrillo RA, Özkan E. Molecular basis of synaptic specificity by immunoglobulin superfamily receptors in Drosophila. Elife. 2019 01 28; 8. PMID: 30688651; PMCID: PMC6374074.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    10. Li H, Watson A, Olechwier A, Anaya M, Sorooshyari SK, Harnett DP, Lee HP, Vielmetter J, Fares MA, Garcia KC, Labrador JP, Zinn K, Özkan E. Deconstruction of the beaten Path-Sidestep interaction network provides insights into neuromuscular system development. Elife. 2017 08 15; 6. PMID: 28829740; PMCID: PMC5578738.
      Citations: 19     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. Zinn K, Özkan E. Neural immunoglobulin superfamily interaction networks. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2017 08; 45:99-105. PMID: 28558267; PMCID: PMC5554755.
      Citations: 36     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    12. Cheng S, Seven AB, Wang J, Skiniotis G, Özkan E. Conformational Plasticity in the Transsynaptic Neurexin-Cerebellin-Glutamate Receptor Adhesion Complex. Structure. 2016 12 06; 24(12):2163-2173. PMID: 27926833; PMCID: PMC5149402.
      Citations: 23     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    13. Dong X, Chiu H, Park YJ, Zou W, Zou Y, Chang C, Shen K, Özkan E. Precise regulation of the guidance receptor DMA-1 by KPC-1/Furin instructs dendritic branching decisions. Elife. 2016 Mar 14; 5. PMID: 26974341; PMCID: PMC4811766.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. Carrillo RA, Menon KP, Nagarkar-Jaiswal S, Lee PT, Jeon M, Birnbaum ME, Bellen HJ, Garcia KC, Zinn K, Özkan E. Control of Synaptic Connectivity by a Network of Drosophila IgSF Cell Surface Proteins. Cell. 2015 Dec 17; 163(7):1770-1782. PMID: 26687361; PMCID: PMC4720259.
      Citations: 81     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Hara M, Sun H, Yu H, Luo X, Özkan E. Structure of an intermediate conformer of the spindle checkpoint protein Mad2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Sep 08; 112(36):11252-7. PMID: 26305957; PMCID: PMC4568698.
      Citations: 22     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    16. Gao S, Olechwier AM, Hung WL, Liu M, Zhen M, Shen K, Maro GS, Özkan E. MADD-4/Punctin and Neurexin Organize C. elegans GABAergic Postsynapses through Neuroligin. Neuron. 2015 Jun 17; 86(6):1420-32. PMID: 26028574; PMCID: PMC4672740.
      Citations: 55     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    17. Ho CC, Guo N, Sockolosky JT, Ring AM, Weiskopf K, Mori Y, Weissman IL, Garcia KC, Özkan E. "Velcro" engineering of high affinity CD47 ectodomain as signal regulatory protein a (SIRPa) antagonists that enhance antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. J Biol Chem. 2015 May 15; 290(20):12650-63. PMID: 25837251; PMCID: PMC4432284.
      Citations: 53     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    18. Birnbaum ME, Mendoza JL, Sethi DK, Dong S, Glanville J, Dobbins J, Ozkan E, Davis MM, Wucherpfennig KW, Garcia KC. Deconstructing the peptide-MHC specificity of T cell recognition. Cell. 2014 May 22; 157(5):1073-87. PMID: 24855945; PMCID: PMC4071348.
      Citations: 284     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    19. Chia PH, Wang RR, Goriatcheva N, Borek D, Otwinowski Z, Walz T, Shen K, Garcia KC, Özkan E. Extracellular architecture of the SYG-1/SYG-2 adhesion complex instructs synaptogenesis. Cell. 2014 Jan 30; 156(3):482-94. PMID: 24485456; PMCID: PMC3962013.
      Citations: 38     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    20. Carrillo RA, Eastman CL, Weiszmann R, Waghray D, Johnson KG, Zinn K, Celniker SE, Garcia KC, Özkan E. An extracellular interactome of immunoglobulin and LRR proteins reveals receptor-ligand networks. Cell. 2013 Jul 03; 154(1):228-39. PMID: 23827685; PMCID: PMC3756661.
      Citations: 112     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. Weiskopf K, Ring AM, Ho CC, Volkmer JP, Levin AM, Volkmer AK, Ozkan E, Fernhoff NB, van de Rijn M, Weissman IL, Garcia KC. Engineered SIRPa variants as immunotherapeutic adjuvants to anticancer antibodies. Science. 2013 Jul 05; 341(6141):88-91. PMID: 23722425; PMCID: PMC3810306.
      Citations: 257     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    22. Yu XM, Gutman I, Mosca TJ, Iram T, Ozkan E, Garcia KC, Luo L, Schuldiner O. Plum, an immunoglobulin superfamily protein, regulates axon pruning by facilitating TGF-ß signaling. Neuron. 2013 May 08; 78(3):456-68. PMID: 23664613; PMCID: PMC3706783.
      Citations: 32     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    23. Ring AM, Lin JX, Feng D, Mitra S, Rickert M, Bowman GR, Pande VS, Li P, Moraga I, Spolski R, Ozkan E, Leonard WJ, Garcia KC. Mechanistic and structural insight into the functional dichotomy between IL-2 and IL-15. Nat Immunol. 2012 Dec; 13(12):1187-95. PMID: 23104097; PMCID: PMC3501574.
      Citations: 122     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    24. Feng D, Kim T, Ozkan E, Light M, Torkin R, Teng KK, Hempstead BL, Garcia KC. Molecular and structural insight into proNGF engagement of p75NTR and sortilin. J Mol Biol. 2010 Mar 05; 396(4):967-84. PMID: 20036257; PMCID: PMC2847487.
      Citations: 49     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Eroglu C, Allen NJ, Susman MW, O'Rourke NA, Park CY, Ozkan E, Chakraborty C, Mulinyawe SB, Annis DS, Huberman AD, Green EM, Lawler J, Dolmetsch R, Garcia KC, Smith SJ, Luo ZD, Rosenthal A, Mosher DF, Barres BA. Gabapentin receptor alpha2delta-1 is a neuronal thrombospondin receptor responsible for excitatory CNS synaptogenesis. Cell. 2009 Oct 16; 139(2):380-92. PMID: 19818485; PMCID: PMC2791798.
      Citations: 471     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. Boucard AA, Ozkan E, Strop P, Newell E, Brunger AT, Araç D, Südhof TC. Structures of neuroligin-1 and the neuroligin-1/neurexin-1 beta complex reveal specific protein-protein and protein-Ca2+ interactions. Neuron. 2007 Dec 20; 56(6):992-1003. PMID: 18093522.
      Citations: 115     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    27. Ozkan E, Yu H, Deisenhofer J. Mechanistic insight into the allosteric activation of a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme by RING-type ubiquitin ligases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 27; 102(52):18890-5. PMID: 16365295; PMCID: PMC1316884.
      Citations: 104     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    28. Tang Z, Li B, Bharadwaj R, Zhu H, Ozkan E, Hakala K, Deisenhofer J, Yu H. APC2 Cullin protein and APC11 RING protein comprise the minimal ubiquitin ligase module of the anaphase-promoting complex. Mol Biol Cell. 2001 Dec; 12(12):3839-51. PMID: 11739784; PMCID: PMC60759.
      Citations: 74     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    29. Usher KC, Ozkan E, Gardner KH, Deisenhofer J. The plug domain of FepA, a TonB-dependent transport protein from Escherichia coli, binds its siderophore in the absence of the transmembrane barrel domain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Sep 11; 98(19):10676-81. PMID: 11526207; PMCID: PMC58525.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:Cells
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