Michael B. Hoppa, Ph.D.
Title(s):
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Department(s):
Biological Sciences
Education:
B.A. Reed College, Portland OR
D.Phil. The University of Oxford, Oxford UK (Mentor: Patrik Rorsman)
Programs:
Molecular and Cell Biology
Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine
Websites:
http://www.synapticbiology.com/
Contact Information:
345 Life Sciences Center
HB 6044
Hanover, NH 03755
Office: 345 Life Sciences Center
Phone: 603 646 8850
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Assistant:
Asst. Phone:
Asst. Email:
Professional Interests: The initiation of action potentials is
fundamental to signaling and defines excitability in mammalian
neurons. The axon initial segment (AIS) is a distinct axonal
compartment where dendritic currents are integrated and
transformed into action potential(s). It is thought that the efficacy of
this conversion process is determined in part by the local (high)
density of sodium channels in the AIS. Sodium channel expression,
function, and location are emerging as key players in neurological
disorders such as epilepsy. However, the mechanisms by which this
high density of channels is achieved and how AIS function is
maintained and modulated are poorly understood despite its
paramount importance in brain function. My laboratory’s research
harnesses our custom-built optics to make robust quantitative
measurements of endogenous ion channel function using optogenetic
reporters in combination with genetic and biochemical tools.
Rotations and Thesis Projects: Projects are tailored to the
student, please contact to discuss in greater detail and visit our
website. We are currently taking students.
Grant Information:
Start Up, Burke Award
Courses Taught:
1. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Psych46/Bio49
2. Advanced Neurobiology Bio 74
Biography: I graduated as a biology major at Reed College in 2004
where I soon became fascinated with understanding how cells store
and release chemical transmitters. After spending some time as a
technician in Dr. Wolfhard Almer’s laboratory learning some
fundamental principles of Total Internal Refelection Microscopy I
joined Patrik Rorman’s laboratory at the University of Oxford to study
insulin exocytosis in pancreatic beta cells. After my PhD studies, I
joined Dr. Timothy Ryan’s laboratory at Weill Cornell Medical College
to study ion channel trafficking and neurotransmission in
hippocampal neurons. In 2014, I joined the Biology Department at
Dartmouth College as an Assistant Professor.
Selected Publications:
1. Hoppa MB, Gouzer G, Armbruster M, Ryan TA. Control and plasticity of the presynaptic action
potential waveform at small CNS nerve terminals. Neuron. 2014 Nov 19; 84(4): 778-89.
2. Ariel P, Hoppa MB, Ryan TA. Intrinsic variability in Pv, RRP size, Ca(2+) channel repertoire, and
presynaptic potentiation in individual synaptic boutons. Front Synaptic Neurosci. 2012;4:9.
3. Hoppa MB, Lana B, Margas W, Dolphin AC, Ryan TA. α2δ expression sets presynaptic calcium
channel abundance and release probability. Nature. 2012 May 13;486(7401):122-5.
4. Hoppa MB, Jones E, Karanauskaite J, Ramracheya R, Braun M, Collins SC, Zhang Q, Clark A,
Eliasson L, Genoud C, Macdonald PE, Monteith AG, Barg S, Galvanovskis J, Rorsman P.
Multivesicular exocytosis in rat pancreatic beta cells. Diabetologia. 2012 Apr;55(4):1001-12
5. Hoppa MB, Collins S, Ramracheya R, Hodson L, Amisten S, Zhang Q, Johnson P, Ashcroft FM,
Rorsmann P. Chronic palmitate exposure inhibits insulin secretion by dissociation of Ca(2+)
channels from secretory granules. Cell Metabolism. 2009 Dec;10(6):455-65.