Dr Jocelyn Widagdo
Senior Research Fellow
Queensland Brain Institute
*
Researcher biography
Dr Jocelyn Widagdo is a molecular neuroscientist at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland. She received her PhD from the University of New South Wales and, after a short period of postdoctoral training at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Dr Widagdo returned to Australia in 2012 and joined the QBI, where she is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research. She leads a research team focused on uncovering the epitranscriptomic mechanisms that regulate brain function. Her work centres on how RNA modifications regulate synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Beyond RNA, her research extends to chemical modifications of DNA and proteins, and explores how these highly dynamic molecular changes orchestrate neuronal activity and may contribute to brain disorders. Dr Widagdo's research is supported by the Australian Research Council and was awarded a Discovery Early Career Researcher Fellowship. Through her research, she hopes to open new paths toward understanding molecular switches that support healthy brain aging.
Journal Articles
Rahman, Md Rezanur, Yang, Yuanhao, Gratten, Jacob, Anggono, Victor and Widagdo, Jocelyn (2025). Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization analysis identifies nominal evidence for association of N6-methyladenosine genetic variation with Alzheimer’s disease. OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology, 30 (1), 56-67. doi: 10.1177/15578100251408263
Zhu, Tianyi, Tan, Jing Zhi Anson, Zhang, Lingrui, Huang, He, Das, Sooraj S., Cheng, Flora, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Jones, Mathew J. K., Lee, Mihwa, Lee, Albert, Widagdo, Jocelyn and Anggono, Victor (2025). FTO suppresses DNA repair by inhibiting PARP1. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 2925, 2925. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58309-0
Huang, He, van Waardenberg, Ashley J., Graham, Mark E., Anggono, Victor and Widagdo, Jocelyn (2024). Global quantitative proteomic analysis of aged mouse hippocampus. PROTEOMICS, 24 (7) e2300276, 1-6. doi: 10.1002/pmic.202300276
Marshall, Andrew C., Cummins, Jerry, Kobelke, Simon, Zhu, Tianyi, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Anggono, Victor, Hyman, Anthony, Fox, Archa H., Bond, Charles S. and Lee, Mihwa (2023). Different low-complexity regions of SFPQ play distinct roles in the formation of biomolecular condensates. Journal of Molecular Biology, 435 (24) 168364, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168364
Tan, Jing Zhi Anson, Jang, Se Eun, Batallas-Borja, Ana, Bhembre, Nishita, Chandra, Mintu, Zhang, Lingrui, Guo, Huimin, Ringuet, Mitchell T., Widagdo, Jocelyn, Collins, Brett M. and Anggono, Victor (2023). Copine-6 is a Ca2+ sensor for activity-induced AMPA receptor exocytosis. Cell Reports, 42 (12) 113460, 1-20. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113460
Leiter, Odette, Brici, David, Fletcher, Stephen J., Yong, Xuan Ling Hilary, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Matigian, Nicholas, Schroer, Adam B., Bieri, Gregor, Blackmore, Daniel G., Bartlett, Perry F., Anggono, Victor, Villeda, Saul A. and Walker, Tara L. (2023). Platelet-derived exerkine CXCL4/platelet factor 4 rejuvenates hippocampal neurogenesis and restores cognitive function in aged mice. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 4375, 1-20. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39873-9
Guntupalli, Sumasri, Park, Pojeong, Han, Dae Hee, Zhang, Lingrui, Yong, Xuan Ling Hilary, Ringuet, Mitchell, Blackmore, Daniel G., Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., Koentgen, Frank, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Kaang, Bong-Kiun and Anggono, Victor (2023). Ubiquitination of the GluA1 subunit of AMPA receptors is required for synaptic plasticity, memory and cognitive flexibility. The Journal of Neuroscience, 43 (30), 5448-5457. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.1542-22.2023
Radford, Rowan A. W., Rayner, Stephanie L., Szwaja, Paulina, Morsch, Marco, Cheng, Flora, Zhu, Tianyi, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Anggono, Victor, Pountney, Dean L., Chung, Roger and Lee, Albert (2023). Identification of phosphorylated Tau protein interactors in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) reveals networks involved in protein degradation, stress response, cytoskeletal dynamics, metabolic processes, and neurotransmission. Journal of Neurochemistry, 165 (4), 563-586. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15796
Huang, He, Song, Renhua, Wong, Justin J.‐L., Anggono, Victor and Widagdo, Jocelyn (2023). The
N
6
‐methyladenosine
RNA
landscape in the aged mouse hippocampus. Aging Cell, 22 (1) e13755, 1-8. doi: 10.1111/acel.13755
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Udagedara, Saumya, Bhembre, Nishita, Tan, Jing Zhi Anson, Neureiter, Lara, Huang, Jie, Anggono, Victor and Lee, Mihwa (2022). Familial ALS-associated SFPQ variants promote the formation of SFPQ cytoplasmic aggregates in primary neurons. Open Biology, 12 (9) 220187, 1-12. doi: 10.1098/rsob.220187
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Wong, Justin J.-L. and Anggono, Victor (2022). The m6A-epitranscriptome in brain plasticity, learning and memory. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 125, 110-121. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.023
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Anggono, Victor and Wong, Justin J.-L. (2022). The multifaceted effects of YTHDC1-mediated nuclear m6A recognition. Trends in Genetics, 38 (4), 325-332. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.11.005
Yong, Xuan Ling Hilary, Zhang, Lingrui, Yang, Liming, Chen, Xiumin, Tan, Jing Zhi Anson, Yu, Xiaojun, Chandra, Mintu, Livingstone, Emma, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Vieira, Marta M., Roche, Katherine W., Lynch, Joseph W., Keramidas, Angelo, Collins, Brett M. and Anggono, Victor (2021). Regulation of NMDA receptor trafficking and gating by activity-dependent CaMKIIα phosphorylation of the GluN2A subunit. Cell Reports, 36 (1) 109338, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109338
Huang (黄 河), He, Camats-Perna, Judith, Medeiros, Rodrigo, Anggono, Victor and Widagdo, Jocelyn (2020). Altered expression of the m6A methyltransferase METTL3 in Alzheimer’s disease. eNeuro, 7 (5) ENEURO.0125-20.2020, ENEURO.0125-20.2020. doi: 10.1523/eneuro.0125-20.2020
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Kerk, Jun Wei, Guntupalli, Sumasri, Huganir, Richard L. and Anggono, Victor (2020). Subunit-specific augmentation of AMPA receptor ubiquitination by phorbol ester. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 40 (7), 1213-1222. doi: 10.1007/s10571-020-00809-2
Bamford, Rosemary A., Widagdo, Jocelyn, Takamura, Natsuki, Eve, Madeline, Anggono, Victor and Oguro-Ando, Asami (2020). The interaction between contactin and amyloid precursor protein and its role in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience, 424, 184-202. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.10.006
Zalucki, Oressia, Harris, Lachlan, Harvey, Tracey J., Harkins, Danyon, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Oishi, Sabrina, Matuzelski, Elise, Yong, Xuan Ling Hilary, Schmidt, Hannes, Anggono, Victor, Burne, Thomas H. J., Gronostajski, Richard M. and Piper, Michael (2019). NFIX-mediated inhibition of neuroblast branching regulates migration within the adult mouse ventricular–subventricular zone. Cerebral Cortex, 29 (8), 3590-3604. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhy233
Widagdo, Jocelyn and Anggono, Victor (2018). The m6A-epitranscriptomic signature in neurobiology: from neurodevelopment to brain plasticity. Journal of Neurochemistry, 147 (2), 137-152. doi: 10.1111/jnc.14481
Zhu, Tianyi, Yong, Xuan Ling Hilary, Di, Xia, Widagdo, Jocelyn and Anggono, Victor (2018). Ubiquitination regulates the proteasomal degradation and nuclear translocation of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein. Journal of Molecular Biology, 430 (3), 363-371. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.12.003
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Guntupalli, Sumasri, Jang, Se E. and Anggono, Victor (2017). Regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking by protein ubiquitination. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10 347, 347. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00347
Lin, Quan, Ponnusamy, Ravikumar, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Choi, Jung A., Ge, Weihong, Probst, Christine, Buckley, Tyler, Lou, Mimi, Bredy, Timothy W., Fanselow, Michael S., Ye, Keqiang and Sun, Yi E. (2017). MicroRNA-mediated disruption of dendritogenesis during a critical period of development influences cognitive capacity later in life. Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114 (34), 9188-9193. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1706069114
Guntupalli, Sumasri, Jang, Se Eun, Zhu, Tianyi, Huganir, Richard L., Widagdo, Jocelyn and Anggono, Victor (2017). GluA1 subunit ubiquitination mediates amyloid-beta-induced loss of surface alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 292 (20), 8186-8194. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M116.774554
Tan, Men C., Widagdo, Jocelyn, Chau, Yu Q., Zhu, Tianyi, Wong, Justin J.-L, Cheung, Allen and Anggono, Victor (2017). The activity-induced long non-coding RNA Meg3 modulates AMPA receptor surface expression in primary cortical neurons. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 11 124, 124.1-124.12. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00124
Clairfeuille, Thomas, Mas, Caroline, Chan, Audrey S. M., Yang, Zhe, Tello-Lafoz, Maria, Chandra, Mintu, Wigagdo, Jocelyn, Kerr, Markus, Blessy, Paul, Merida, Isabel, Teasdale, Rohan D., Pavlos, Nathan J., Anggono, Victor and Collins, Brett (2016). A molecular code for endosomal recycling of phosphorylated cargos by the SNX27–retromer complex. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 23 (10), 921-932. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.3290
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Fang, Huaqiang, Jang, Se Eun and Anggono, Victor (2016). PACSIN1 regulates the dynamics of AMPA receptor trafficking. Scientific Reports, 6 (31070) 31070, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/srep31070
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Zhao, Qiong-Yi, Kempen, Marie-Jeanne, Tan, Men Chee, Ratnu, Vikram S., Wei, Wei, Leighton, Laura, Spadaro, Paola A., Edson, Janette, Anggono, Victor and Bredy, Timothy W. (2016). Experience-dependent accumulation of N6-methyladenosine in the prefrontal cortex is associated with memory processes in mice. Journal of Neuroscience, 36 (25), 6771-6777. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4053-15.2016
Guntupalli, Sumasri, Widagdo, Jocelyn and Anggono, Victor (2016). Amyloid-β-induced dysregulation of AMPA receptor trafficking. Neural Plasticity, 2016 3204519, 1-12. doi: 10.1155/2016/3204519
Carmona-Mora, Paulina, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Tomasetig, Florence, Canales, Cesar P, Cha, Yeojoon, Lee, Wei, Alshawaf, Abdullah, Dottori, Mirella, Whan, Renee M, Hardeman, Edna C and Palmer, Stephen J (2015). The nuclear localization pattern and interaction partners of GTF2IRD1 demonstrate a role in chromatin regulation. Human Genetics, 134 (10), 1099-1115. doi: 10.1007/s00439-015-1591-0
Widagdo, Jocelyn and Anggono, Victor (2015). Ubiquitin signals the demise of AMPA receptors. Oncotarget, 6 (18), 15718-15719. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.4645
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Chai, Ye Jin, Ridder, Margreet C, Chau, Yu Qian, Johnson, Richard C, Sah, Pankaj, Huganir, Richard L and Anggono, Victor (2015). Activity-Dependent ubiquitination of GluA1 and GluA2 regulates AMPA receptor intracellular sorting and degradation. Cell Reports, 10 (5), 783-795. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.01.015
Spadaro, Paola A., Flavell, Charlotte R., Widagdo, Jocelyn, Ratnu, Vikram S., Troup, Michael, Ragan, Chikako, Mattick, John S. and Bredy, Timothy W. (2015). Long noncoding RNA-directed epigenetic regulation of gene expression is associated with anxiety-like behavior in mice. Biological Psychiatry, 78 (12), 848-859. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.02.004
Li, Xiang, Wei, Wei, Zhao, Qiong-Yi, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Baker-Andresen, Danay, Flavell, Charlotte R., D'Alessio, Ana, Zhang, Yi and Bredy, Timothy W. (2014). Neocortical Tet3-mediated accumulation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine promotes rapid behavioral adaptation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111 (19), 7120-7125. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1318906111
Anggono, Victor, Koc-Schmitz, Yeliz, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Kormann, Jan, Quan, Annie, Chen, Chih-Ming, Robinson, Phillip J., Choi, Se-Young, Linden, David J., Plomann, Markus and Huganir, Richard L. (2013). PICK1 interacts with PACSIN to regulate AMPA receptor internalization and cerebellar long-term depression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110 (34), 13976-13981. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1312467110
Widagdo, Jocelyn, Taylor, Kylie M., Gunning, Peter W., Hardeman, Edna C. and Palmer, Stephen J. (2012). SUMOylation of GTF2IRD1 regulates protein partner interactions and ubiquitin-mediated degradation. PLoS One, 7 (11) e49283, e49283. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049283
Palmer, Stephen J., Taylor, Kylie M., Santucci, Nicole, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Chan, Yee-Ka Agnes, Yeo, Jen-Li, Adams, Merritt, Gunning, Peter W. and Hardeman, Edna C. (2012). GTF2IRD2 from the Williams-Beuren critical region encodes a mobile-element-derived fusion protein that antagonizes the action of its related family members. Journal of Cell Science, 125 (21), 5040-5050. doi: 10.1242/jcs.102798
Palmer, Stephen J., Santucci, Nicole, Widagdo, Jocelyn, Bontempo, Sara J., Taylor, Kylie M., Tay, Enoch S. E., Hook, Jeff, Lemckert, Frances, Gunning, Peter W. and Hardeman, Edna C. (2010). Negative autoregulation of GTF2IRD1 in Williams-Beuren syndrome via a novel DNA binding mechanism. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285 (7), 4715-4724. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.086660
Conference Papers
Widagdo, J. (2017). Activity-dependent RNA methylation in learning and memory. ISN-ESN 2017 Meeting, Paris, France, 20-24 August 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jnc.14090
Bredy, T., Widagdo, J. and Zhao, Q.-Y. (2015). Epitranscriptomic mechanisms of memory stability. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13185
Widagdo, J., Zhao, Q. -Y., Anggono, V. and Bredy, T. (2015). Activity-dependent RNA methylation in learning and memory. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188