Evan Deneris, PhD

Professor and Interim Chair
Department of Neurosciences
School of Medicine

Teaching Information

Office Hours

Research Information

Research Interests

Research in the Deneris lab is aimed at understanding the genetic mechanisms that act across the lifespan to regulate serotonin system function and to determine how these mechanisms impact serotonin-modulated behaviors. Our studies have identified transcription factors that function in an embryonic regulatory network to specify serotonin neurons in the mammalian ventral hindbrain.

Current research in the lab is focused on using a recently developed temporally controlled genetic targeting approach to investigate the requirement for ongoing serotonergic transcription in serotonin system maturation and maintenance across the lifespan. Our new findings have shown that Pet-1, a key factor in the serotonergic specification network continues to function at subsequent stages of serotonin system maturation to regulate serotonergic axonal innervation patterns and acquisition of intrinsic autoregulatory pathways that modulate serotonin neuron firing and transmitter release. Pet-1-dependent transcription is still needed in adult serotonin neurons to directly regulate brain serotonin synthesis and reuptake and to maintain emotional behaviors. These findings demonstrate that alterations in serotonergic transcriptional networks at any stage of life can disrupt serotonin system modulation of behavior and physiology.

 

Publications

Selected Publications

Zhang, X. L., Spencer, W. C., Tabuchi, N., Kitt, M. M., & Deneris, E. S. (2022).  Elife. 2022 Apr 26;11:e75970.

Kitt MM, Tabuchi N, Spencer WC, Robinson HL, Zhang XL, Eastman BA, Lobur KJ, Silver J, Mei L, Deneris ES. (2022) . Cell Rep. Apr 19;39(3):110711.

Zhang XL, Spencer WC, Tabuchi N, Kitt MM, Deneris ES. (2022) . eLife. Apr 26;11:e75970.

Mark MD, Wollenweber P, Gesk A, Kösters K, Batzke K, Janoschka C, Maejima T, Han J, Deneris ES, Herlitze S. (2019) . Commun Biol. Oct 11;2:373.

Donovan LJ, Spencer WC, Kitt MM, Eastman BA, Lobur KJ, Jiao K, Silver J, Deneris ES. (2019) . eLife;8:e48788

Joanes Grandjean, Alberto Corcoba, Martin C. Kahn, A. Louise Upton, Evan S. Deneris, Erich Seifritz, Fritjof Helmchen, Edward O. Mann, Markus Rudin & Bechara J. Saab. (2019) . Nature Communicationsvolume 10, Article number: 350

Deneris, E and Gaspar, P. (2018) . Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol. 7: e301.

Matarazzo V, Caccialupi L, Schaller F, Shvarev Y, Kourdougli N, Bertoni A, Menuet C, Voituron N, Deneris E, Gaspar P, Bezin L, Durbec P, Hilaire G, Muscatelli F. (2017) . eLife. 6: e32640.

Spencer, W.C. and Deneris, E.S. (2017) . 11:215.

Carlson, K.S.*, Whitney, M.S.*, Gadziola, M.A. Deneris, E.S.#, Wesson, D.#. *co-first authors, #co-senior authors. (2016) . eNeuro, 3: e0257.

Whitney, M. S., Shemery A. M., Yaw, A.M., Donovan, L.J., Glass, J.D., and Deneris, E.S. (2016) . J. Neurosci., 36: 9828-9842. This week in the Journal featured article. Selected for review in Journal Clubs, February 15, 2017, vol 37, issue 7.

*Wyler SC, *Spencer WC, Green NH, Rood BD, Crawford L, Craige C, Gresch P, McMahon DG, Beck SG, Deneris ES. *co-first authors (2016) . J. Neurosci. 36: 1758-74.

Baganz NL, Lindler KM, Zhu CB, Smith JT, Robson MJ, Iwamoto H, Deneris ES, Hewlett WA, Blakely RD. (2015) . Transl Psychiatry. 5: e671.

Berger M, Scheel DW, Macias H, Miyatsuka T, Kim H, Hoang P, Ku GM, Honig G, Liou A, Tang Y, Regard JB, Sharifnia P, Yu L, Wang J, Coughlin SR, Conklin BR, Deneris ES, Tecott LH, German MS. (2015) . PNAS 112:2888-93.

*Wyler SC, *Donovan LJ, Yeager M, Deneris ES. *Co-first authors (2015) . ACS Chem Neurosci. 6:1198-1205.

Issler O, Haramati S, Paul ED, Maeno H, Navon I, Zwang R, Gil S, Mayberg HS, Dunlop BW, Menke A, Awatramani R, Binder EB, Deneris ES, Lowry CA, Chen A. (2014) . Neuron. 83:344-360.

Deneris, E. and Hobert, O. (2014) . Nature Neuroscience. 17:899-907.

Fox, S.R. and Deneris, E.S. (2012) . Journal of Neuroscience. 32:7832-7842.

Liu, C. and Deneris, E.S. (2011) . 36:361-362.

Yadav, P.N., Abbas, A.I., Farrell, M.S., Setola, V., Sciaky, N., Huang, X.P., Kroeze, W.K., Michael J. Keiser, M.J., Irwin, J.J., Shoichet, B.K., Deneris, E.S., Gingrich, J., Beck, S.G., Roth, B.L. (2011) . in press

Liu, C., Maejima, T., Wyler, S., Casadesus, G., Herlitze, Deneris, E.S. (2010) . 13:1190-1198 PMCID: PMC2947586.

Oh, E., Maejima, T, Liu, C., Deneris, E., Herlitze, S. (2010) . J. Biol. Chem. 285:30825-30836.

Cummings KJ, Li A, Deneris E, Nattie E. (2010) . Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 298:R1333-1342.

Wylie, C.J., Hendricks, T.J., Zhang, B., Wang, L., Lu, P., Leahy, P., Fox, S., Maeno, H., and Deneris, E.S. (2010) s. J. Neurosci. 30:670-684.

Hawthorne, A.L., Wylie, C.J., Landmesser, L.T., Deneris, E.S. and Silver, J. (2010) . J. Neurosci. 30:420-430 PMC2855244.

Corcoran AE, Hodges MR, Wu Y, Wang W, Wylie CJ, Deneris ES, Richerson GB. (2009) . Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 168:49-58.

Krueger, K.C. and Deneris, E.S. (2008) . J. Neurosci. 28:12748-12758 PMCID: PMC2610260.

Lerch-Haner, J.K., Frierson, D., Crawford, L., Beck, S. and Deneris, E.S. (2008) . Nat. Neurosci. 11:1001-1003 PMCID: PMC2679641.

Jensen, P., Farago, A.F., Awatramani, R.B., Scott, M.M., Deneris, E.S. and Dymecki, S.M. (2008) . Nat. Neurosci. 11:417-419.

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) . J. Neurosci. 28:2495-2505.

Erickson, J.T., Shafer, G., Rossetti, M.D., Wilson, C. G., and Deneris, E.S. (2007) . Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 159:85-101 PMCID: PMC2593840.

*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) . J. Neurosci. 26:12781-12788.

Xu, X, Scott, M.M. and Deneris, E. (2006) . Mol. Cell. Biol. 26:5636-5649.

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) . PNAS. 2005 Nov 8; 102(45):16472-16477 PMC1283423. 2005/10/26 [aheadoffprint].

Scott MM, Krueger KC, Deneris ES. (2005) . J Neurosci. 2005 Mar 9; 25(10):2628-2636.

Scott MM, Deneris ES. (2005) . Int J Dev Neurosci. 2005 Apr-May; 23(2-3):277-285.

Hendricks TJ, Fyodorov DV, Wegman LJ, Lelutiu NB, Pehek EA, Yamamoto B, Silver J, Weeber EJ, Sweatt JD, Deneris ES. (2003) . Neuron. 2003 Jan 23; 37(2):233-247.

Francis N, Deneris ES. (2002) . J Biol Chem. 2002 Feb 22; 277(8):6511-6519. 2001/12/04 [aheadofprint].

Zhou Y, Deneris E, Zigmond RE. (2001) . J Neurobiol. 2001 Feb 15; 46(3):178-192.

McDonough J, Francis N, Miller T, Deneris ES. (2000) . J Biol Chem. 2000 Sep 15; 275(37):28962-28970.

Deneris ES, Francis N, McDonough J, Fyodorov D, Miller T, Yang X. (2000) . Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Mar 30; 393(1-3):69-74.

Hendricks T, Francis N, Fyodorov D, Deneris ES. (1999) . J Neurosci. 1999 Dec 1; 19(23):10348-10356.

Zhou Y, Deneris E, Zigmond RE. (1998) . J Neurobiol. 1998 Feb 5; 34(2):164-178.

Fyodorov D, Nelson T, Deneris E. (1998) . J Neurobiol. 1998 Feb 5; 34(2):151-163.

McDonough J, Deneris E. (1997) beta43': . J Neurosci. 1997 Apr 1; 17(7):2273-2283.

Yang X, Yang F, Fyodorov D, Wang F, McDonough J, Herrup K, Deneris E. (1997) . J Neurobiol. 1997 Mar; 32(3):311-324.

Fyodorov D, Deneris E. (1996) . Mol Cell Biol. 1996 Sep; 16(9):5004-5014.

Yang X, Fyodorov D, Deneris ES. (1995) . J Biol Chem. 1995 Apr 14; 270(15):8514-8520.

Yang X, McDonough J, Fyodorov D, Morris M, Wang F, Deneris ES. (1994) . J Biol Chem. 1994 Apr 8; 269(14):10252-10264.