Hongik Hwang Assistant Professor
Research introduction
[Molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory]
A neuron communicates with neighboring neurons by releasing neurotransmitters at specialized contact sites, called synapses. Such synaptic transmission plays a major role in delivering information from one neuron to another and also integrating signals at a neuronal network level. Interestingly, the efficiency of synaptic transmission constantly changes depending on the history of neuronal activation, and in this sense, the connection strength between neurons is considered "plastic". This phenomenon is known as synaptic plasticity, which is widely accepted as a cellular basis of learning and memory formation in the brain. Our group aims to understand how schizophrenia risk genes, such as neurogranin, modulate synaptic plasticity and animal behaviors at the molecular level.
A neuron communicates with neighboring neurons by releasing neurotransmitters at specialized contact sites, called synapses. Such synaptic transmission plays a major role in delivering information from one neuron to another and also integrating signals at a neuronal network level. Interestingly, the efficiency of synaptic transmission constantly changes depending on the history of neuronal activation, and in this sense, the connection strength between neurons is considered "plastic". This phenomenon is known as synaptic plasticity, which is widely accepted as a cellular basis of learning and memory formation in the brain. Our group aims to understand how schizophrenia risk genes, such as neurogranin, modulate synaptic plasticity and animal behaviors at the molecular level.
Education
- 2016 MIT, Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry
- 2008 POSTECH, B.S. in Chemistry
Career
- 2023.03–Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Life Science, University of Seoul
- 2016.07–2023.02: Post-Doc, Brain Science Institute, KIST
Papers
- [1] Seo J*, Hwang H*, Sohn H*, Cho E, Jung S, Kim S, Um SM, Kim JY, Kang M, Choi Y, Kim JH, Kim M, Kim SY, Lee SK, Ahnn J, Rhim H, Jo DG, Kim E, Park M, Cyclin Y regulates spatial learning and memory flexibility through distinct control of the actin pathway, Mol Psychiatry, 28(3), 1351-1364, 2023.
- [2] Hwang H, Szucs MJ, Ding LJ, Allen A, Ren X, Haensgen H, Gao F, Rhim H, Andrade A, Pan JQ, Carr SA, Ahmad R, Xu W, Neurogranin, Encoded by the Schizophrenia Risk Gene NRGN, Bidirectionally Modulates Synaptic Plasticity via Calmodulin-Dependent Regulation of the Neuronal Phosphoproteome, Biol Psychiatry, 89(3), 256-269, 2021.
- [3] Hwang H*, Hur YN*, Sohn H, Seo J, Hong JH, Cho E, Choi Y, Lee S, Song S, Lee AR, Kim S, Jo DG, Rhim H, Park M, Cyclin Y, a novel actin-binding protein, regulates spine plasticity through the cofilin-actin pathway, Prog Neurobiol, 198, 101915, 2021.
