Ozhan Lab. on Development and Regeneration

OVERVIEW

Our research focuses on two main themes: detailed understanding of Wnt/β-catenin signaling via discovery of new pathway modulators and exploring the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in regeneration of the adult central nervous system by using zebrafish as model.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

On one side, our lab is interested in understanding how Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activity is finetuned i.e. regulated by a variety of positive and negative modulators. Here we have two main lines of research. First, we aim at understanding the role of membrane rafts, which are the specialized cell surface nanodomains known to have critical functions in regulation of various signaling pathways, in Wnt-receptor complex activation. This is an interdisciplinary study that combines molecular and cellular biology techniques with advanced biophysical methods. Disclosure of the functional role of membrane raft nanodomains in Wnt signal transduction in a broader manner will shed light on the drug discovery studies targeting the pathway proteins preferring rafts. 

Second, by exploiting the feedback regulation feature of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, we aim to characterize novel Wnt targets that might act as pathway modifiers. To identify Wnt target genes, we will apply an RNAsequencing based whole transcriptome analysis and analyze genes that are differentially expressed upon pathway manipulation. Characterization of universally regulated Wnt targets might aid in discovery of novel Wnt pathway modifiers. Drug candidates that will be discovered via screening of small molecules targeting these modifiers will create a perfect option for targeted treatment of cancer and minimize the side effects that might emerge during treatment. Here we may exploit zebrafish embryos to identify small molecules and further validate them in adult fish.

On the other side, we aim to understand the features of Wnt-responsive cells in the highly regenerative zebrafish brain in response to injury. As zebrafish can constitutively produce new neurons throughout their life at numerous zones of stem/progenitor cells all over the brain, it represents the most widespread vertebrate neurogenesis capacity known to date and thus constitutes an ideal platform to study brain regeneration. Here we will utilize an array of molecular and cellular biology techniques including micromanipulation, histological analyses and imaging. The outcome will help us understand how brain regeneration is controlled at the molecular level and why regeneration is very limited in the mammalian brain. Furthermore, by revealing the relationship of Wnt signaling to brain regeneration, this study will pave the way for improving brain regeneration and new approaches for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or brain injury.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling at the plasma membrane has been shown to occur via phosphorylation of the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 in raft membrane microdomains. However, the functional relevance of this finding for pathway activation and the molecular mechanisms regulating raft-specific activation had remained vague. In our previous work, we identified a new Wnt pathway modulator, Lypd6, as a positive feedback regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and proved that it enhances signaling in zebrafish and Xenopus embryos and in mammalian cells (see figure). Lypd6, a GPI- anchored plasma membrane protein, partitions preferably into the raft membrane domains where it guarantees raft-specific phosphorylation of LRP6, which in turn activates the signaling. Hence, our study reveals that the activation of Wnt pathway components in specific plasma membrane microdomains is a target for cellular modifiers of the pathway. Future studies will not only elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying such regulation but will also reveal whether these principles could be adopted for therapeutic interventions.

Group Members

Ozhan Lab. on Development and Regeneration

Research Group Leader

Güneş ÖZHAN
gunes.ozhan@ibg.edu.tr
+90 232 299 41 00 (5061)
+9 02322994156

Ebru TURHANLAR Researcher  ebru.turhanlar@ibg.edu.tr


Makbule Dilek NAZLI PhD Student  makbuledilek.nazli@ibg.edu.tr


İpek AYDOĞDU MSc Student  ipek.aydogdu@ibg.edu.tr


Murat ÖZCAN Undergraduate Student  murat.ozcan@ibg.edu.tr


Begüm ÇELİKKIRAN Undergraduate Student  begum.celikkiran@ibg.edu.tr


Selin HELVACIOĞLU MSc Student  selin.helvacioglu@ibg.edu.tr


Ayşe ŞAHİN MSc Student  ayse.sahin@ibg.edu.tr


Doğa KARAGÜLLE MSc Student  doga.karagulle@ibg.edu.tr


Beril ÇATAK MSc Student  beril.catak@ibg.edu.tr


Elif Yaren SEZGİN Undergraduate Student  yaren.sezgin@ibg.edu.tr


Ceyda Nur ÖKSÜM Undergraduate Student  nur.oksum@ibg.edu.tr


Remziye Nur AKALPER Undergraduate Student  nur.akalper@ibg.edu.tr


Eray KORKMAZ Undergraduate Student  eray.korkmaz@ibg.edu.tr


Şevval ÖZDİNÇ PhD Student  sevval.ozdinc@std.ibg.edu.tr


Yağmur BEKTAŞLI Undergraduate Student  yagmur.bektasli@std.ibg.edu.tr


Abdullah ALAKBAROV PhD Student  abdullah.alakbarov@std.ibg.edu.tr


Müge SAVAŞ PhD Student  muge.savas@std.ibg.edu.tr


Doğaç İPEKGİL PhD Student  dogac.ipekgil@ibg.edu.tr


Kerem GÜNGÖR Undergraduate Student  kerem.gungor@std.ibg.edu.tr


Evrim Selen DEMİRBAŞOĞLU PhD Student  evrim.demirbasoglu@ibg.edu.tr


Sevcan HACOĞLU MSc Student  sevcan.hacoglu@std.ibg.edu.tr


Esra KATKAT Post-Doc Researcher  esra.katkat@ibg.edu.tr


Zeynep SOYSAL Undergraduate Student  zeynep.soysal@std.ibg.edu.tr


Ceyda Ceren DAĞDEVİREN Undergraduate Student  ceyda.dagdeviren@std.ibg.edu.tr


Former Members

Evin İŞCAN Research Group Member  evin.iscan@ibg.edu.tr


Yağmur AZBAZDAR R&D Personnel  yagmur.azbazdar@ibg.edu.tr


Özgün ÖZALP PhD Student  ozgun.ozalp@ibg.edu.tr


Özge ÇARK MSc Student  ozge.cark@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Ramazan Uğur BORA PhD Student  ugur.bora@ibg.edu.tr


Yeliz DEMİRCİ PhD Student  yeliz.demirci@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Yağmur AZBAZDAR PhD Student  yagmur.azbazdar@ibg.edu.tr


Gökhan CUCUN MSc Student  gokhan.cucun@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Gökhan CUCUN Visiting Researcher  gokhan.cucun@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Makbule Dilek NAZLI MSc Student  makbuledilek.nazli@ibg.edu.tr


Yusuf Kaan POYRAZ MSc Student  yusufkaan.poyraz@ibg.edu.tr


Mine KÖKTÜRK Visiting Researcher  mine.kokturk@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Seda BAYKAL KÖSE Post-Doc Researcher  seda.baykal@ibg.edu.tr


Hasan Buğra ÇOBAN Visiting Researcher  bugra.coban@ibg.edu.tr


Sezen GÜNTEKİN ERGÜN Visiting Researcher  sezen.ergun@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Doğaç İPEKGİL MSc Student  dogac.ipekgil@ibg.edu.tr


Mine KÖKTÜRK Visiting Researcher  mine.kokturk@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Umut ÇAĞIRAL MSc Student  umut.cagiral@ibg.edu.tr


Emre Mert İPEKOĞLU PhD Student  None


İsmail Cem YILMAZ Post-Doc Researcher  ismail.yilmaz@ibg.edu.tr


Nilsu TURAY MSc Student  None


Yavuz Kerem ALTUN Undergraduate Student  yavuz.altun@ibg.edu.tr


Doğa KARAGÜLLE Undergraduate Student  doga.karagulle@ibg.edu.tr


Emir TEFİK Undergraduate Student  emir.tefik@ibg.edu.tr


Yiğit KOCAGÖZ Post-Doc Researcher  yigit.kocagoz@ibg.edu.tr


Yusuf Kaan POYRAZ PhD Student  yusufkaan.poyraz@ibg.edu.tr


Dilara Omar Undergraduate Student  dilara.omar@ibg.edu.tr


Meltem KARAHAN Visiting Researcher  meltem.karahan@ibg.edu.tr


Selin HELVACIOĞLU MSc Student  selin.helvacioglu@ibg.edu.tr


Ayşe ŞAHİN Undergraduate Student  ayse.sahin@ibg.edu.tr


Ecenur ÖZDEMİR Undergraduate Student  ecenur.ozdemir@ibg.edu.tr


Oğulcan ERDOĞAN Undergraduate Student  ogulcan.erdogan@ibg.edu.tr


Elif GÜNER Undergraduate Student  elif.guner@ibg.edu.tr


Beril ÇATAK Undergraduate Student  beril.catak@ibg.edu.tr


Sevcan HACOĞLU Undergraduate Student  sevcan.hacoglu@std.ibg.edu.tr


Mehmet GÜMÜŞ Undergraduate Student  mehmet.gumus@ibg.edu.tr


Miray SEVİNİN Undergraduate Student  miray.sevinin@ibg.edu.tr


Kayra ALAN Undergraduate Student  kayra.alan@ibg.edu.tr


Miray SEVİNİN MSc Student  miray.sevinin@ibg.edu.tr


Ayça ESMER MSc Student  ayca.esmer@ibg.edu.tr


Evrim Selen DEMİRBAŞOĞLU Undergraduate Student  evrim.demirbasoglu@ibg.edu.tr


Bahattin Buğra YÜKSEL Undergraduate Student  bugra.yuksel@ibg.edu.tr


Mine KÖKTÜRK Visiting Researcher  mine.kokturk@msfr.ibg.edu.tr


Esra KATKAT PhD Student  esra.katkat@ibg.edu.tr


Esra KATKAT PhD Student  esra.katkat@ibg.edu.tr


Selected Publications

Akçaöz-Alasar A, Tüncel Ö, Sağlam B, Gazaloğlu Y, Atbinek M, Cagiral U, Iscan E, Ozhan G, Akgül B. Epitranscriptomics m(6) A analyses reveal distinct m(6) A marks under tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-induced apoptotic conditions in HeLa cells.. Journal of cellular physiology. 2024 April ; 239 (4) : e31176. doi:10.1002/jcp.31176. Download

Yiğit A, Köktürk M, Yıldırım S, Nazli D, Kiliçlioğlu M, Sahin A, Atamanalp M, Ozhan G, Menges N, Alak G. Effect of boramidic acid modified carbon nanotubes on neurological, morphological and physiological responses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae.. The Science of the total environment. 2024 October ; 947 : 174614. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174614. Download

Cark O, Katkat E, Aydogdu I, Iscan E, Oktay Y, Ozhan G. tubg1 Somatic Mutants Show Tubulinopathy-Associated Neurodevelopmental Phenotypes in a Zebrafish Model.. Molecular neurobiology. 2024 August . doi:10.1007/s12035-024-04448-2. Download

Baykal S, Yuce Z, Ozhan G. Phenotypically plastic drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukaemia cell line displays enhanced cellular dynamics in a zebrafish xenograft model.. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine. 2024 October ; 28 (19) : e70105. doi:10.1111/jcmm.70105. Download

Karahan M, Kiziltan Eliacik BB, Cagiral U, Iscan E, Ozhan G. Investigation of the biocompatibility of various pulp capping materials on zebrafish model.. PloS one. 2024 September ; 19 (9) : e0310996. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0310996. Download

M. Kokturk, S. Yıldırım, M. H. Calimli, M. S. Nas, F. Ibaokurgil, G. Ozhan, M. Atamanalp & G. Alak. Perspective on green synthesis of RP-Pd/AC NPs: characterization, embryonic and neuronal toxicity assessment. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 2023 January . doi:10.1007/s13762-022-04005-1. Download

Azbazdar Y, Poyraz YK, Ozalp O, Nazli D, Ipekgil D, Cucun G, Ozhan G. High-fat diet feeding triggers a regenerative response in the adult zebrafish brain.. Molecular neurobiology. 2023 January ; 60 (2) : 1-21. doi:10.1007/s12035-023-03210-4. Download

D. Engur, I. Ercan, C. Kiser, K.U. Tufekci, S. Soy, S.C. Micili, G. Ozhan, S. Guven, A. Kumral, S. Genc. Hydrogen peroxide signaling modulates neuronal differentiation via microglial polarization and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.. 2023 June ; 27 (11) : 5083-5096. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202306_32625. Download

Kokturk M, Yıldırım S, Atamanalp M, Kiliclioglu M, Ucar A, Ozhan G and Alak G.. Mitigation potential of zingerone and rutin on toxicity mechanisms of nickel to zebrafish based on morphological, DNA damage and apoptosis outcome analysis. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2023 December ; 80 : 127268. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127268. Download

Atalar MN, Kokturk M, Altindag F, Ozhan G, Ozen T, Demirtas I, Gulcin I. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of secondary metabolites of different St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) extracts used as food supplements and evaluation of developmental toxicity on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae. South African Journal of Botany. 2023 August ; 159 : 580-587. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2023.06.031. Download

Azbazdar Y, Demirci Y, Heger G, Ipekgil D, Karabicici M, Ozhan G. Comparative membrane lipidomics of hepatocellular carcinoma cells reveals diacylglycerol and ceramide as key regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and tumor growth.. Molecular oncology. 2023 September ; 17 : 2314–2336. doi:10.1002/1878-0261.13520. Download

Azbazdar Y, Tejeda-Munoz N, Monka JC, Dayrit A, Binder G, Ozhan G, De Robertis EM. Addition of exogenous diacylglycerol enhances Wnt/β-catenin signaling through stimulation of macropinocytosis.. iScience. 2023 September ; 26 (10) : 108075. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.108075. Download

Katkat E, Demirci Y, Heger G, Karagulle D, Papatheodorou I, Brazma A, Ozhan G. Canonical Wnt and TGF-β/BMP signaling enhance melanocyte regeneration but suppress invasiveness, migration, and proliferation of melanoma cells.. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2023 November ; 11 : 1297910. doi:10.3389/fcell.2023.1297910. Download

Demirci Y, Heger G, Katkat E, Papatheodorou I, Brazma A, Ozhan G. Brain Regeneration Resembles Brain Cancer at Its Early Wound Healing Stage and Diverges From Cancer Later at Its Proliferation and Differentiation Stages.. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2022 February ; 10 : 813314. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.813314. Download

Hesaraki M, Bora U, Pahlavan S, Salehi N, Mousavi SA, Barekat M, Rasouli SJ, Baharvand H, Ozhan G, Totonchi M. A Novel Missense Variant in Actin Binding Domain of MYH7 Is Associated With Left Ventricular Noncompaction.. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine. 2022 April ; 9 : 839862. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.839862. Download

Kokturk M, Yıldırım S, Yigit A, Ozhan G, Bolat I, Alma, MH, Menges N, Atamanalp M and Alak G.. What is the eco-toxicological level and effects of Graphene oxide-Boramidic Acid (GO-ED-BA NP)? : In vivo study on Zebrafish embryo/larvae.. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 2022 October ; 10 (5) : 108443. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2022.108443. Download

Kokturk M, Yıldırım S, Atamanalp M, Calimli MH, Nas MS, Bolat I, Ozhan G, and Alak G. Assessment of oxidative DNA damage, apoptosis and histopathological alterations on zebrafish exposed with green silver nanoparticle. Chemistry and Ecology. 2022 August ; 38 (7) : 655-60. doi:10.1080/02757540.2022.2108808. Download

Köktürk M, Altindağ F, Ozhan G, Çalimli MH, Nas MS. Textile dyes Maxilon blue 5G and Reactive blue 203 induce acute toxicity and DNA damage during embryonic development of Danio rerio.. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP. 2021 April ; 242 : 108947. doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2020.108947. Download

Ozgun Ozalp, Ozge Cark, Yagmur Azbazdar, Betul Haykir, Gokhan Cucun, Ismail Kucukaylak, Gozde Alkan-Yesilyurt, Erdinc Sezgin and Gunes Ozhan. Nradd acts as a negative feedback regulator of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and promotes apoptosis. Biomolecules. 2021 January ; 11 (1) : 100. doi:10.3390/biom11010100. Download

Evin Iscan, Umut Ekin, Gokhan Yildiz, Ozden Oz, Umur Keles, Aslı Suner, Gulcin Cakan-Akdogan, Gunes Ozhan, Marta Nekulova, Borivoj Vojtesek, Hamdiye Uzuner, Gökhan Karakülah, Hani Alotaibi and Mehmet Ozturk. TAp73β Can Promote Hepatocellular Carcinoma Dedifferentiation. Cancers. 2021 February ; 13 (4) : 783. doi:10.3390/cancers13040783. Download

Azbazdar Y, Karabicici M, Erdal E, Ozhan G. Regulation of Wnt Signaling Pathways at the Plasma Membrane and Their Misregulation in Cancer.. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2021 January ; 9 : 631623. doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.631623. Download

Akbari S, Kunter İ, Azbazdar Y, Ozhan G, Atabey N, Karagonlar ZF, Erdal E. LGR5/R-Spo1/Wnt3a axis promotes stemness and aggressive phenotype in hepatoblast-like hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.. Cellular signalling. 2021 June : 109972. doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.109972. Download

Dhasmana D, Veerapathiran S, Azbazdar Y, Nelanuthala AVS, Teh C, Ozhan G, Wohland T. Wnt3 Is Lipidated at Conserved Cysteine and Serine Residues in Zebrafish Neural Tissue.. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2021 May ; 9 : 671218. doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.671218. Download

Kokturk M, Yıldırım S, Nas MS, Ozhan G, Atamanalp M, Bolat I, Calimli MH, Alak G. Investigation of the Oxidative Stress Response of a Green Synthesis Nanoparticle (RP-Ag/ACNPs) in Zebrafish.. Biological trace element research. 2021 August . doi:10.1007/s12011-021-02855-3. Download

Karabicici M, Azbazdar Y, Ozhan G, Senturk S, Firtina Karagonlar Z, Erdal E. Changes in Wnt and TGF-β Signaling Mediate the Development of Regorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HuH7.. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2021 August ; 9 : 639779. doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.639779. Download

Ozhan, G. Editorial: Wnt Signaling at the Plasma Membrane: Activation, Regulation and Disease Connection. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2021 October ; 9 : 2994. doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.780163. Download

Karabicici M, Azbazdar Y, Iscan E, Ozhan G. Misregulation of Wnt Signaling Pathways at the Plasma Membrane in Brain and Metabolic Diseases.. Membranes. 2021 October ; 11 (11) : 844. doi:10.3390/membranes11110844. Download

Chai C, Cox B, Yaish D, Gross D, Rosenberg N, Amblard F, Shemuelian Z, Gefen M, Korach A, Tirosh O, Lanton T, Link H, Tam J, Permikov A, Ozhan G, Citrin J, Liao H, Tannous M, Hahn M, Axelrod J, Arretxe E, Alonso C, Martinez-Arranz I, Betés PO, Safadi R, Salhab A, Amer J, Tber Z, Mengshetti S, Giladi H, Schinazi RF, Galun E. Agonist of RORA Attenuates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Progression in Mice via Upregulation of microRNA 122.. Gastroenterology. 2020 September ; 159 (3) : 999-1014.e9. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.056. Download

Demirci Y, Cucun G, Poyraz YK, Mohammed S, Heger G, Papatheodorou I, Ozhan G. Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Regenerating Zebrafish Telencephalon Unravels a Resource With Key Pathways During Two Early Stages and Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling at the Early Wound Healing Stage.. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2020 October ; 8 : 584604. doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.584604. Download

Azbazdar Y, Ozalp O, Sezgin E, Veerapathiran S, Duncan AL, Sansom MSP, Eggeling C, Wohland T, Karaca E, Ozhan G. More Favorable Palmitic Acid Over Palmitoleic Acid Modification of Wnt3 Ensures Its Localization and Activity in Plasma Membrane Domains. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2019 November ; 7 : 281. doi:10.3389/fcell.2019.00281. Download

Aysim Gunes, Ezgi Bagirsakci, Evin Iscan, Gulcin Cakan-Akdogan, Umut Aykutlu, Serif Senturk, Gunes Ozhan, Esra Erdal, Deniz Nart, Funda Yilmaz Barbet, Nese Atabey. Thioredoxin interacting protein promotes invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2018 ; 9 (96) : 36849-36866. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.26402. Download

Sezgin E, Azbazdar Y, Ng XW, Teh C, Simons K, Weidinger G, Wohland T, Eggeling C, Ozhan G. Binding of canonical Wnt ligands to their receptor complexes occurs in ordered plasma membrane environments. The FEBS journal. 2017 August ; 284 (15) : 2513-2526. doi:10.1111/febs.14139. Download

Schneider F, Waithe D, Clausen MP, Galiani S, Koller T, Ozhan G, Eggeling C, Sezgin E. Diffusion of lipids and GPI-anchored proteins in actin-free plasma membrane vesicles measured by STED-FCS. Mol Biol Cell. 2017 June ; 28 (11) : 1507-1518. doi:10.1091/mbc.E16-07-0536. Download

Ozhan G, Weidinger G. Wnt/β-catenin signaling in heart regeneration. Cell regeneration (London, England). 2015 July ; 4 (1) : 3. doi:10.1186/s13619-015-0017-8. Download

Kizil C, Küchler B, Yan JJ, Özhan G, Moro E, Argenton F, Brand M, Weidinger G, Antos CL. Simplet/Fam53b is required for Wnt signal transduction by regulating β-catenin nuclear localization. Development (Cambridge, England). 2014 September ; 141 (18) : 3529-39. doi:10.1242/dev.108415. Download

Wehner D, Cizelsky W, Vasudevaro MD, Ozhan G, Haase C, Kagermeier-Schenk B, Röder A, Dorsky RI, Moro E, Argenton F, Kühl M, Weidinger G. Wnt/β-catenin signaling defines organizing centers that orchestrate growth and differentiation of the regenerating zebrafish caudal fin. Cell reports. 2014 February ; 6 (3) : 467-81. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2013.12.036. Download

Luz M, Spannl-Müller S, Özhan G, Kagermeier-Schenk B, Rhinn M, Weidinger G, Brand M. Dynamic association with donor cell filopodia and lipid-modification are essential features of Wnt8a during patterning of the zebrafish neuroectoderm. PloS one. 2014 January ; 9 (1) : e84922. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0084922. Download

Özhan G, Sezgin E, Wehner D, Pfister AS, Kühl SJ, Kagermeier-Schenk B, Kühl M, Schwille P, Weidinger G. Lypd6 enhances Wnt/β-catenin signaling by promoting Lrp6 phosphorylation in raft plasma membrane domains. Developmental cell. 2013 August ; 26 (4) : 331-45. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2013.07.020. Download

Thieme S, Gyárfás T, Richter C, Özhan G, Fu J, Alexopoulou D, Muders MH, Michalk I, Jakob C, Dahl A, Klink B, Bandola J, Bachmann M, Schröck E, Buchholz F, Stewart AF, Weidinger G, Anastassiadis K, Brenner S. The histone demethylase UTX regulates stem cell migration and hematopoiesis. Blood. 2013 March ; 121 (13) : 2462-73. doi:10.1182/blood-2012-08-452003. Download

Moro E, Ozhan-Kizil G, Mongera A, Beis D, Wierzbicki C, Young RM, Bournele D, Domenichini A, Valdivia LE, Lum L, Chen C, Amatruda JF, Tiso N, Weidinger G, Argenton F. In vivo Wnt signaling tracing through a transgenic biosensor fish reveals novel activity domains. Developmental biology. 2012 June ; 366 (2) : 327-40. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.03.023. Download

Kagermeier-Schenk B, Wehner D, Ozhan-Kizil G, Yamamoto H, Li J, Kirchner K, Hoffmann C, Stern P, Kikuchi A, Schambony A, Weidinger G. Waif1/5T4 inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling and activates noncanonical Wnt pathways by modifying LRP6 subcellular localization. Developmental cell. 2011 December ; 21 (6) : 1129-43. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2011.10.015. Download

Ozhan-Kizil G, Havemann J, Gerberding M. Germ cells in the crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis depend on Vasa protein for their maintenance but not for their formation. Developmental biology. 2009 March ; 327 (1) : 230-9. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.10.028. Download

Total : 42

Selected Book Chapters

Zebra Balığı Nörodejeneratif Hastalık Modelleri (2023). Zebra Balığının Model Organizma Olarak Kullanımı. Türkiye Klinikleri.

Hücre Ölümü Çalışmalarında Zebrabalığı Modelinin Kullanımı (2022). Hastalıkta ve Sağlıkta Hücre Ölümü: Mekanizmaları ve Deneysel Araştırma Modelleri. Hücre Ölümü Araştırma Derneği.

Restoring Tissue Homeostasis: Wnt Signaling in Tissue Regeneration After Acute Injury (2014). Wnt signalling in Development and Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Biological Functions. Wiley-Blackwell.

Total : 3

Projects

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Yeni Wnt/Β-Katenin Sinyal İletim Yolağı DüZenleyici Elementlerinin Belirlenmesi Ve Moleküler Karakterizasyonu, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Wnt/B-Catenin Signaling In Regeneration Of Pancreas In The Adult Zebrafish, Finished

European Molecular Biology Organization - EMBO - RD : Zebrafish As A Model For Understanding Mechanisms Of Wnt/B-Catenin Signalling Viz Discovery of New Pathway Modulators In Regeneration of Adult Central Nervous System, Ongoing

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of Wnt-receptor complex activation in plasma membrane domains: An interdisciplinary study bridging molecular cell biology and biophysics, Finished

DEÜ BAP - Dokuz Eylul University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit - RD : Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of Wnt-receptor complex activation in plasma membrane domains, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Karaciğer Kanserinde Axl’in Rolü, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Investigation of the role of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in brain regeneration in the adult zebrafish model, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Investigation of the role of Neurotrophin receptor associated death domain protein in regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling using the zebrafish model, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Investigation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling at the plasma membrane in health and disease, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Development of methods and tools in iPSCs and zebrafish towards modeling of DNA sequence variants in patients with pachygyria by using genome editing technologies that will lead to personalized medicine applications, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : The Role of Caveolin-1 on Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Impact of Redox Signaling on Wnt/beta-catenin Dependant Microglial Polarization And Concomitant Neural Stem Cell Differentiation in Zebrafish And Three Dimentional Tissue Culture Models, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Comparative analysis of the molecular mechanisms of melanocyte regeneration and melanoma using the zebrafish model and manipulation of gene expression profiles in melanoma cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 to induce a regeneration-like progress, Ongoing

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Humanin Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles for Alzheimer’s Disease, In-Vitro and In-Vivo Evaluation, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Investigation of invasion, motility and proliferation capacities of leukemic cells with high plasticity in the zebrafish (Dario rerio) model, Ongoing

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Investigation of the roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and p75NTR homolog Nradd in development of neuronal degeneration and regeneration responses in Alzheimer's disease in a zebrafish model of amyloid-β42 toxicity, Ongoing

DEÜ BAP - Dokuz Eylul University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit - RD : The effects of Humanin and Donepezil on brain neurotransmitter levels in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a comparative study of the molecular and behavioral level in a zebrafish model of amyloid-beta toxicity, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Investigation of the Role of Carboxyesterase Notum in Regenerative Neurogenesis in Zebrafish (Dario Rerio) Brain Model, Ongoing

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD : Discovering the genetic causes of idiopathic infertility due to meiotic arrest and elucidating the functional roles of the mutated genes, Ongoing

Other National Funding Body - RD : Establishment of a Zebrafish Xenograft Model for Personalized Treatment of Leukemias, Funded, Not Started

Health Institutes of Turkey- TUSEB - RD : Comparison of the molecular mechanisms of brain cancer and brain regeneration using the zebrafish model and convergence of glioblastoma cells to regenerating cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, Funded, Not Started

Other National Funding Body - RD : In vitro and in vivo investigation of mRNA transport potentials of novel cationic polymers, Ongoing

Awards

  • 2210-A National MSc/MA Scholarship Program-İpek Aydoğdu by TUBITAK, 2023
  • 2210-A National MSc/MA Scholarship Program-Selin Helvacıoğlu by TUBITAK, 2023
  • 2211-A National PhD Scholarship Program-Dilek Nazlı by TUBITAK, 2023
  • 2211-C Domestic Priority Areas Doctoral Scholarship Programs-Ugur BORA by TUBITAK, 2022
  • 2210-C Domestic Priority Areas Master Scholarship Program-Dilek NAZLI by TUBITAK, 2022
  • EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant-Dr. Evin ISCAN by EMBO, 2022
  • FEBS Short-Term Fellowship-Esra KATKAT by FEBS, 2022
  • FEBS Journal Poster Prize-Dogac IPEKGIL by FEBS, 2022
  • AEGEAN START-UPS Technology Based Entrepreneurship Program by United Nations-IOM, 2022
  • 2210-C Domestic Priority Areas Master Scholarship Program-Dogac IPEKGIL by TUBITAK, 2022
  • FEBS Short-Term Fellowship-Ugur BORA by FEBS, 2022
  • Erasmus Exchange Programme-Yusuf Kaan POYRAZ by Erasmus+ Programme, 2022
  • EMBO Short-term fellowship-Ozgun OZALP by EMBO, 2021
  • FEBS Summer Fellowship-Ozge CARK by FEBS, 2021
  • 2214-A - International Research Fellowship Programme for PhD Students-Yeliz DEMIRCI by TUBITAK, 2021
  • 2211-C Domestic Priority Areas Doctoral Scholarship Programs-Esra KATKAT by TUBITAK, 2021
  • 2210-C Domestic Priority Areas Master Scholarship Program-Yusuf Kaan POYRAZ by TUBITAK, 2021
  • Prof. Dr. Nazmi Özer Science Award by Türk Biyokimya Derneği, 2021
  • 2211-C Domestic Priority Areas Doctoral Scholarship Programs-Yagmur AZBAZDAR by TUBITAK, 2020
  • Oral Presentation Award-Esra KATKAT by Onkolojide İz Bırakanlar Zirvesi, 2019
  • FEBS Short-Term Fellowship-Yeliz DEMIRCI by FEBS, 2019
  • Incentive Award by METU Prof. Mustafa N. Parlar Education and Research Foundation, 2018
  • Best Poster Award-Esra KATKAT by 6th International Congress of the Molecular Biology Association of Turkey, 2018
  • EMBO Short-Term Fellowship-Yeliz DEMIRCI by EMBO, 2018
  • Young Scientist (BAGEP) Award by Science Academy, 2016
  • Young Investigator (GEBİP) Awards by Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), 2016
  • Installation Grant by EMBO, 2015
  • International Rising Talents Candidate of Turkey by L'Oréal UNESCO, 2015
  • L’Oréal & Unesco Turkey National Women in Science Award by Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, 2015
  • 2232 Yurda Dönüş Araştırmacı Dolaşım Programı by TUBITAK, 2014

Contact

Ozhan Lab. on Development and Regeneration

Research Group Leader

Güneş ÖZHAN
gunes.ozhan@ibg.edu.tr
+90 232 299 41 00 (5061)
+9 02322994156