Dr. Hagerman is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and a M.I.N.D. Institute Investigator. He is a molecular biologist with expertise in nucleic acid biochemistry, and a passionate interest in understanding the basis for specific neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. The Hagerman lab has made a number of important observations related to the mechanism of gene expression of the fragile X (FMR1) gene. In 2001, Dr. Hagerman and his wife, Dr. Randi Hagerman, reported their discovery of a new neurological disorder involving tremor and balance problems (fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome; FXTAS). FXTAS, with features of both Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases, may be one of the most common single-gene neurodegenerative disorders among older adult males in the general population. FXTAS is caused by the same gene that gives rise to fragile X syndrome, the leading heritable form of mental impairment in children and the leading known single gene associated with autism. Dr. Hagerman believes that the study of these two related disorders will lead to a broader understanding of neurodegenerative disorders and developmental disorders of childhood.

Courses Taught: BCM 410A Cell and Molecular Biology --SOM - Term(s): Fall
MCB 200B Biochemical and Molecular Techniques -guest lecturer - Term(s): Winter
MCB 162 Human Genetics -guest lecturer - Term(s): Fall

Publications:

Jacquemont, S., Hagerman, R. J., Leehey, M. A., Hall, D. A., Levine, R. A., Brunberg, J. A., Zhang, L., Jardini, T., Gane, L. W., Harris, S. W., Herman, K., Grigsby, J., Greco, C., Berry-Kravis, E., Tassone, F. & Hagerman, P. J. (2004). Penetrance of the fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) in a premutation carrier population: Initial results from a California family-based study. Journal of the American Medical Association 291, 460-469.

Garcia Arocena, D., Breece, K. E. & Hagerman, P. J. (2003). Distribution of CGG repeat sizes within the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) homologue in a non-human primate population. Hum Genet 113, 371-376.

Tassone, F. & Hagerman, P. J. (2003). Expression of the FMR1 gene. Cytogenet Genome Res 100, 124-8.

Jacquemont, S., Hagerman, R. J., Leehey, M., Grigsby, J., Zhang, L., Brunberg, J. A., Greco, C., Des Portes, V., Jardini, T., Levine, R., Berry-Kravis, E., Brown, W. T., Schaeffer, S., Kissel, J., Tassone, F. & Hagerman, P. J. (2003). Fragile X premutation tremor/ataxia syndrome: molecular, clinical, and neuroimaging correlates. Am J Hum Genet 72, 869-78.

Hagerman, P. J., Greco, C. M. & Hagerman, R. J. (2003). A cerebellar tremor/ataxia syndrome among fragile X premutation carriers. Cytogenet Genome Res 100, 206-12.

Hagerman, R.J., and Hagerman, P.J. (2002) The Fragile X Premutation: Into the Phenotypic Fold. Curr. Op. Genet. Dev. 12: 278-283.

Fragile X Syndrome: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Research, Third Edition. (2002) Hagerman RJ and Hagerman PJ (eds) The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.

Greco, C.M., Hagerman, R.J., Tassone, F., Chudley, A.E., Del Bigio, M.R., Jacquemont, S., Leehey, M., Hagerman, P.J. (2002) Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusions in a New Cerebellar Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome Among Fragile X Carriers. Brain, Vol. 125, No. 8, 1760-1771, August 2002.

Hagerman RJ, Leehey M, Heinrichs W, Tassone F, Wilson R, Hills J, Grigsby J, Gage B, Hagerman PJ (2001) Intention tremor, Parkinsonism and generalized brain atrophy in older male carriers of fragile X. Neurology 57, 127-130.

Tassone F., Hagerman R.J., Taylor A.K., and Hagerman P.J. (2001) A Majority of Fragile X Males with Methylated, Full Mutation Alleles Have Significant Levels of FMR1 Messenger RNA. J. Med. Genet. 38, 453-456.

Chiang, P.W., Carpenter, L., and Hagerman, P.J. (2001) The 5' Untranslated Region of the FMR1 Message Facilitates Translation by Internal Ribosome Entry. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 37916-37921.

Tassone F, Hagerman RJ, Chamberlain WD, Hagerman PJ. (2000) Transcription of the FMR1 gene in individuals with fragile X syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Semin. Med. Genet.) 97, 195-203.