University of Southern California
Admission
Undergraduate Studies
Graduate Studies
Academic Departments
Faculty
Research
Institutes and Centers
About USC College
USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences
USC College > Faculty > Departments > Department of Biological Sciences > Chien-Ping Ko
Faculty display

Chien-Ping Ko

Professor of Biological Sciences

Contact Information
Office: HNB 209A
Phone: (213)740-9182
E-mail: cko@usc.edu

 

Education
B.S. Zoology, National Taiwan University, Tawain, 5/1970
Ph.D. Physiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 5/1975
 

Postdoctoral Training
Postdoctoral Fellow, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, 1978-1981  
Postdoctroal Fellow, University of Colorado Medical Center, 1975-1978  
 

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History
Professor, University of Southern California, Fall 1996   
Associate Professor, University of Southern California, Fall 1987   
Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Spring 1981   
 

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
Professor Ko's research interests include cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptic function, regeneration, development, remodeling and maintenance. His current research focuses on the role of the perisynaptic Schwann cell (PSC) and synapse-glial interactions at a prototype synapse, the neuromuscular junction. He is also interested in motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Professor Ko uses transgenic mouse models to investigate various aspects of the disease mechanisms.
 

Research Keywords
cellular neurobiology, synapse formation, sprouting, remodeling and maintenance, synaptic transmission, synapse-glial interactions, neuromuscular junction, Schwann cells, amyotrophical lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, motor neuron disease
 

Publications

Book Chapter
Ko, C., Sugiura, Y., Feng, Z. (2007). The Biology of perisynaptic (terminal) Schwann cells. pp. p.72-99. Cambridge: The Biology of Schwann cells/Cambridge University Press.
 

Encyclopedia Article
Feng, Z., Ko, C. (2007). Schwann Cells and Plasticity of the Neuromuscular Junction. (Larry Squire, Ed.). New Encyclopedia of Neuroscience.
Ko, C. (2001). Neuromuscular System. 10595-10600. Oxford: International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences.
 

Journal Article
Ko, C. (2008). Do nerve terminal sprouts contribute to functional recovery from botulinum neurotoxin A?. Journal of Physiology (Lond.). Vol. 586, pp. 3021.
Feng, Z., Ko, C. (2008). The role of glial cells in the formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Feng, Z., Ko, C. (2007). Neuronal-glia interactions at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Current Opinion in Pharmacology. Vol. 7, pp. 316-324.
Cao, G., Ko, C. (2007). Schwann cell-derived factors modulate synaptic activities at developing neuromuscular synapses. The Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 27 (25), pp. 6712-6722.
Feng, Z., Ko, C. (2005). Synapse-Glia Interactions at the Vertebrate Neuromuscular Junction. The Neuroscientist. Vol. 11, pp. 503-513.
Corfas, G., Velardez, M., Ko, C., Ratner, N., Peles, E. (2004). Mechanisms and roles of axon-Schwann cell interactions. Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 24, pp. 9250-9260.
Koirala, S., Ko, C. (2004). Pruning an axon piece by piece: a new mode of synapse elimination. Neuron. Vol. 44, pp. 578-580.
Reddy, L. V., Koirala, S., Sugiura, Y., Herrera, A. A., Ko, C. (2003). Glial cells maintain synaptic structure and function and promote development of the neuromuscular junction in vivo. Neuron/Cell Press. Vol. 40, pp. 563-580.
Ko, Chien-Ping and Thompson, Wesley J. (Ed.). (2003). The Neuromuscular Junction-a Special Issue. Journal of Neurocytology. Vol. 32, pp. 421-1037.
Koirala, S., Reddy, L. V., Ko, C. (2003). Roles of glial cells in the formation, function, and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. Journal of Neurocytology. Vol. 32, pp. 987-1002.
Peng, H., Yang, J., Dai, Z., Lee, C., Hung, H., Feng, Z., Ko, C. (2003). Differential effects of neurotrophins and Schwann cell-derived signals on neuronal survival/growth and synaptogenesis. The Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 23, pp. 5050-5060.
Brandon, E., Lin, W., D'Amour, K., Pizzo, D., Dominguez, B., Sugiura, Y., Thode, S., Ko, C., Thal, L., Gage, F., Lee, K. (2003). Aberrant patterning of neuromuscular synapses in choline acetyltransferase deficient mice. The Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 23, pp. 539-549.
Yang, J., Cao, G., Koirala, S., Reddy, L. V., Ko, C. (2001). Schwann cells express active agrin and enhance acetylcholine receptor aggregation on muscle fibers. The Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 21, pp. 9572-9584.
 

Honors and Awards
NIH/NSF Career Development Award, 1983-1987  
 

Service to the University

Administrative Appointments
Director/Associate Director of USC Center for Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis, 1994-  
 

Service to the Profession

Editorships and Editorial Boards
Associate Editor, Brain Cell Biology, 2006-  
Editorial Board member, Neuron Glia Biology, 2004-  
Associate Editor, Journal of Neurocytology, 2000-2005  
 
 
Faculty may update their profile by logging into the College portal from a computer on campus or off-campus via a VPN connection.