Research in the Deneris lab is focused on the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that govern the development of vertebrate neurotransmitter systems. Two projects are currently being pursued in the lab. One is focused on the brain serotonin system and the second is focused on the nicotinic cholinergic system of the brain and peripheral nervous system. Our investigation of the serotonin system is aimed at identifying the transcriptional mechanisms that control the development of serotonin neurons and how these mechanisms impact serotonergic modulation of behavior. Our investigation of the cholinergic system is focused on how nicotinic cholinergic receptor subunit genes are coordinately controlled in neurons in order to express appropriate receptor subtypes at synapses. We are using mouse molecular genetics to investigate both of these problems in conjunction with biochemical, histological, and behavioral approaches.

1. Krueger, K.C. and Deneris, E.S. (2008)
   Serotonergic transcription of human FEV reveals direct GATA factor interactions and fate of Pet-1 deficient serotonin neuron precursors. J. Neurosci. 28:12748-12758.
   
2. Lerch-Haner, J.K., Frierson, D., Crawford, L., Beck, S. and Deneris, E.S. (2008)
   Serotonergic transcriptional programming determines maternal behavior and offspring survival. Nat. Neurosci. 11:1001-1003.
   
3. Jensen, P., Farago, A.F., Awatramani, R.B., Scott, M.M., Deneris, E.S. and Dymecki, S.M. (2008)
   Redefining the central serotonergic system based on genetic lineage. Nat. Neurosci. 11:417-419.
   
4. Hodges, M.R., Tattersall, G.J., Harris, M.B., McEvoy, S.D., Richerson, D.N., Deneris, E.S., Johnson, R. L., Chen, Z. F., Richerson, G.B. (2008)
   Defects in breathing and thermoregulation in mice with near-complete absence of central serotonin neurons, has been received. J. Neurosci. 28:2495-2505.
   
5. Erickson, J.T., Shafer, G., Rossetti, M.D., Wilson, C. G., and Deneris, E.S. (2007)
   Arrest of 5HT neuron differentiation delays respiratory maturation and impairs neonatal homeostatic responses to environmental challenges Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 159:85-101.
   
6. *Zhao, Z. Q., *Scott, M.M., Chiechio, S., Wang, J.S., Renner, K.J., Gereau, R.W. IV Johnson, R.L., Deneris, E.S., and Chen, Z.F. (2006)
   Lmx1b is required for maintenance of central serotonergic neurons and mice lacking central serotonergic system exhibit normal locomotive activity. J. Neurosci. 26:12781-12788.
   
7. Xu, X, Scott, M.M. and Deneris, E. (2006)
   Shared long-range regulatory elements coordinate expression of a gene cluster encoding nicotinic receptor heteromeric subtypes Mol. Cell. Biol. 26:5636-5649.
   
8. Scott, M.S., Wylie, C.W., Lerch, J.K., Murphy, R., Lobur, K., Herlitze, S., Jiang, W., Conlon, R.A., Strowbridge, B., and Deneris, E.S. (2005)
   A genetic approach to access serotonin neurons for in vivo and in vitro studies. PNAS. 2005 Nov 8; 102(45):16472-16477. 2005/10/26 [aheadofprint].
   
9. Scott MM, Krueger KC, Deneris ES. (2005)
   A differentially autoregulated Pet-1 enhancer region is a critical target of the transcriptional cascade that governs serotonin neuron development. J Neurosci. 2005 Mar 9; 25(10):2628-2636.
   
10. Scott MM, Deneris ES. (2005)
    Making and breaking serotonin neurons and autism. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2005 Apr-May; 23(2-3):277-285.
    
11. Hendricks TJ, Fyodorov DV, Wegman LJ, Lelutiu NB, Pehek EA, Yamamoto B, Silver J, Weeber EJ, Sweatt JD, Deneris ES. (2003)
    Pet-1 ETS gene plays a critical role in 5-HT neuron development and is required for normal anxiety-like and aggressive behavior. Neuron. 2003 Jan 23; 37(2):233-247.
    
12. Francis N, Deneris ES. (2002)
    Retinal neuron activity of ETS domain-binding sites in a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene cluster enhancer. J Biol Chem. 2002 Feb 22; 277(8):6511-6519. 2001/12/04 [aheadofprint].
    
13. Zhou Y, Deneris E, Zigmond RE. (2001)
    Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit proteins alpha7 and beta4 decrease in the superior cervical ganglion after axotomy. J Neurobiol. 2001 Feb 15; 46(3):178-192.
    
14. McDonough J, Francis N, Miller T, Deneris ES. (2000)
    Regulation of transcription in the neuronal nicotinic receptor subunit gene cluster by a neuron-selective enhancer and ETS domain factors. J Biol Chem. 2000 Sep 15; 275(37):28962-28970.
    
15. Deneris ES, Francis N, McDonough J, Fyodorov D, Miller T, Yang X. (2000)
    Transcriptional control of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene cluster by the beta43’ enhancer, Sp1, SCIP and ETS transcription factors. Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Mar 30; 393(1-3):69-74.
    
16. Hendricks T, Francis N, Fyodorov D, Deneris ES. (1999)
    The ETS domain factor Pet-1 is an early and precise marker of central serotonin neurons and interacts with a conserved element in serotonergic genes. J Neurosci. 1999 Dec 1; 19(23):10348-10356.
    
17. Zhou Y, Deneris E, Zigmond RE. (1998)
    Differential regulation of levels of nicotinic receptor subunit transcripts in adult sympathetic neurons after axotomy. J Neurobiol. 1998 Feb 5; 34(2):164-178.
    
18. Fyodorov D, Nelson T, Deneris E. (1998)
    Pet-1, a novel ETS domain factor that can activate neuronal nAchR gene transcription. J Neurobiol. 1998 Feb 5; 34(2):151-163.
    
19. McDonough J, Deneris E. (1997)
    beta43’: An enhancer displaying neural-restricted activity is located in the 3’-untranslated exon of the rat nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta4 gene. J Neurosci. 1997 Apr 1; 17(7):2273-2283.
    
20. Yang X, Yang F, Fyodorov D, Wang F, McDonough J, Herrup K, Deneris E. (1997)
    Elements between the protein-coding regions of the adjacent beta 4 and alpha 3 acetylcholine receptor genes direct neuron-specific expression in the central nervous system. J Neurobiol. 1997 Mar; 32(3):311-324.
    
21. Fyodorov D, Deneris E. (1996)
    The POU domain of SCIP/Tst-1/Oct-6 is sufficient for activation of an acetylcholine receptor promoter. Mol Cell Biol. 1996 Sep; 16(9):5004-5014.
    
22. Yang X, Fyodorov D, Deneris ES. (1995)
    Transcriptional analysis of acetylcholine receptor alpha 3 gene promoter motifs that bind Sp1 and AP2. J Biol Chem. 1995 Apr 14; 270(15):8514-8520.
    
23. Yang X, McDonough J, Fyodorov D, Morris M, Wang F, Deneris ES. (1994)
    Characterization of an acetylcholine receptor alpha 3 gene promoter and its activation by the POU domain factor SCIP/Tst-1. J Biol Chem. 1994 Apr 8; 269(14):10252-10264.
    
24. Deneris ES, Connolly J, Rogers SW, Duvoisin R. (1991)
    Pharmacological and functional diversity of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 1991 Jan; 12(1):34-40.