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Research Groups

Ola Hermanson, Ph.D.

Ola Hermanson

The Hermanson Lab

Research Focus

In the Hermanson lab, we are quite passionate about transcriptional regulatory mechanisms governing the genetic and epigenetic cues that regulate the proper development and function of neural cells and brain circuits involved in autonomic function and cognition.

We are focusing on chromatin modifying factors and transcriptional coregulators (with catchy names like NCoR, SMRT, CtBP, HDACs, HDMs and HMTs) proven to be absolutely critical for proper control of neural development.

We elucidate their expression patterns in the nervous system, the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of their expression and activity, the mechanisms underlying their influence on gene expression, and their functional roles in neural lineage decision, differentiation, adult function, and death.

Technically, we utilize embryonic neural stem cells and ES cells, progenitor cell lines, cancer cell lines, and transgenic animals (mice, zebrafish, chick). We use a wide variety of molecular and biochemical techniques as well as cutting edge bioprinting and imaging techniques.

We also pursue close translational collaborations investigating human ES cells, neurodevelopmental diseases such as Rett syndrome, neurological disease such as MS, and neuroectodermal cancer disease, and we strongly believe that increased knowledge of the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neural differentiation will provide a solid basis for development of new tools for clinical diagnosis and therapy.

Selected Publications

Hajji N, Wallenborg K, Vlachos P, Nyman U, Hermanson O, Joseph B

Combinatorial action of the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A and etoposide induces caspase-mediated AIF-dependent apoptotic cell death in non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

Oncogene Dec 10, 2007 [Epub ahead of print]

Jepsen K, Solum D, Zhou T, McEvilly RJ, Kim HJ, Glass CK, Hermanson O, Rosenfeld MG

SMRT-mediated repression of an H3K27 demethylase in progression from neural stem cell to neuron.

Nature 450: 415-419, 2007

Ilkhanizadeh S, Teixeira AI, Hermanson O

Inkjet printing of macromolecules on hydrogels to steer neural stem cell differentiation.

Biomaterials 28: 3936-3943, 2007

Brunkhorst A, Karlén M, Shi J, Mikolajczyk M, Nelson MA, Metsis M, Hermanson O

A specific role for the TFIID subunit TAF4 and RanBPM in neural progenitor differentiation.

Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences 29: 250-258, 2005

Hermanson O, Jepsen K, Rosenfeld MG

N-CoR controls differentiation of neural stem cells into astrocytes.

Nature 419: 934-939, 2002

Assistant Professor Ola Hermanson

Work:
08-524 874 77
Work:
08-524 877 91
Fax:
08-32 49 27
E-mail:
Department of Neuroscience
Karolinska Institutet
Retzius väg 8
S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

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