Faculty Profile

Paul Hagerman, MD, PhD
Professor
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (School of Medicine)
Director, NeuroTherapeutics Research Institute
4455 Tupper Hall
Office (530) 754-7266
Lab (530) 754-7270
pjhagerman@ucdavis.edu
http://wizard1.ucdavis.edu
[Picture of Paul Hagerman, MD, PhD]
Dr. Hagerman is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and Director of the NeuroTherapeutics Research Institute (NTRI). He is a molecular biologist with a passionate interest in understanding the basis for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, with specific emphasis on disorders related to the fragile X (FMR1) gene. The Hagerman lab has made a number of important observations related to the mechanism of expression of the 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 Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, may be one of the most common single-gene neurodegenerative disorders among older adult males (and some females) in the general population. FXTAS is one of a growing number of neurodegenerative disorders that are caused by the direct toxic gain-of-function of the expressed mRNA itself. The disorder 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 fragile X syndrome and FXTAS will lead to a broader understanding of neurodegenerative disorders and developmental disorders of childhood.

Degrees:
1977 - MD - Stanford University School of Medicine - Medicine
1977 - PhD - Stanford University School of Medicine - Biochemistry

Awards:
William Rosen Award for Fragile X Research

Department and Center Affiliations:
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
NeuroTherapeutics Research Institute

Professional Societies:
American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society of Human Genetics
Society for the Study of Behavioral Phenotypes

Grad Group Affiliations and Specialties:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Genetics
Neuroscience

Publications:
Tassone F., Adams J., Berry-Kravis E.M., Cohen S.S., Brusco A., Leehey M.A., Li L., Hagerman R.J. & Hagerman P.J. (2007) CGG repeat length correlates with age of onset of motor signs of the fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 144, 566-9.

Berry-Kravis, E., Goetz, C. G., Leehey, M. A., Hagerman, R. J., Zhang, L., Li, L., Nguyen, D., Hall, D. A., Tartaglia, N., Cogswell, J., Tassone, F. & Hagerman, P. J. (2007). Neuropathic features in fragile X premutation carriers. Am J Med Genet A 143, 19-26.

Grigsby J., Brega A.G., Leehey M.A., Goodrich G.K., Jacquemont S., Loesch D.Z., Cogswell J.B., Epstein J., Wilson R., Jardini T., Gould E., Bennett R.E., Hessl D., Cohen S., Cook K., Tassone F., Hagerman P.J. & Hagerman R.J. (2007) Impairment of executive cognitive functioning in males with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Mov Disord, 22, 645-50.

Berry-Kravis, E., Abrams, L., Coffey, S. M., Hall, D. A., Greco, C., Gane, L. W., Grigsby, J., Bourgeois, J. A., Finucane, B., Jacquemont, S., Brunberg, J. A., Zhang, L., Lin, J., Tassone, F., Hagerman, P. J., Hagerman, R. J. & Leehey, M. A. (2007). Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome: clinical features, genetics, and testing guidelines. Mov Disord 22, 2018-30, quiz 2140.

Zumwalt, M., Ludwig, A., Hagerman, P. J. & Dieckmann, T. (2007). Secondary structure and dynamics of the r(CGG) repeat in the mRNA of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. RNA Biol 4, 93-100.

Hagerman, P.J. and Hagerman, R.J. (2007) Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome - An Older Face of the Fragile X Gene. Nat Clin Pract Neurol 3:107-112.

Dodds, E. D., Clowers, B. H., Hagerman, P. J. & Lebrilla, C. B. (2008). Systematic characterization of high mass accuracy influence on false discovery and probability scoring in peptide mass fingerprinting. Anal Biochem 372, 156-66.

Amiri, K., Hagerman, R. J. & Hagerman, P. J. (2008). Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome: an aging face of the fragile X gene. Arch Neurol 65, 19-25.

Aguilar, D., Sigford, K. E., Soontarapornchai, K., Nguyen, D. V., Adams, P. E., Yuhas, J. M., Tassone, F., Hagerman, P. J. & Hagerman, R. J. (2008). A quantitative assessment of tremor and ataxia in FMR1 premutation carriers using CATSYS. Am J Med Genet A, 1552-4833 (Electronic).

Hagerman, R. J., Coffey, S. M., Maselli, R., Soontarapornchai, K., Brunberg, J. A., Leehey, M. A., Zhang, L., Gane, L. W., Fenton-Farrell, G., Tassone, F. & Hagerman, P. J. (2008). Neuropathy as a presenting feature in Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome. Ann Neurol In Press.

Research Interests:
The principal objective of the Hagerman laboratory is a greater understanding of the molecular basis of clinical involvement in fragile X syndrome and fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) with the goal of developing effective therapies for those neurological disorders. Our efforts combine clinical and basic molecular research, the latter involving studies of nucleic acid structure, and gene expression at the level of transcription and translation.

Laboratory Personnel:
Hagerman Lab
http://wizard1.ucdavis.edu

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

Personal Interests:
Snowboarding, cycling.