Karl Herrup
Professor II and Department Chair

Neurogenetics, cell cycle, cell death, CNS development, cerebellum, Autism, Alzheimer's disease

The focus of the Herrup lab is on cell cycle regulation in the adult neuron.  While most textbooks describe the typical CNS neuron as “permanently postmitotic,” we have been exploring the ways in which the textbook needs to be re-written.  We are particularly interested in the ways in which cell cycle dysregulation is linked to cell death – in normal situations and in human diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.  Our work involves mouse genetics and animal models of human diseases, as well as direct work with human tissue.  Our technical approaches involve mammalian genetics and molecular biology.  Our assays are predominantly visual, relying heavily on histological and cytological analysis of neurons in brain sections and in culture.

Selected Publications

Zhang J, Herrup K. (2008) Cdk5 and the non-catalytic arrest of the neuronal cell cycle. Cell Cycle. Nov 18;7(22). [Epub ahead of print]

Varvel NH, Bhaskar K, Patil AR, Pimplikar SW, Herrup K, Lamb BT. (2008) Abeta oligomers induce neuronal cell cycle events in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci. 28(43):10786-93.

Samuels IS, Karlo JC, Faruzzi AN, Pickering K, Herrup K, Sweatt JD, Saitta SC, Landreth GE. (2008) Deletion of ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase identifies its key roles in cortical neurogenesis and cognitive function. J Neurosci. 28(27):6983-95.

Zhang J, Cicero SA, Wang L, Romito-Digiacomo RR, Yang Y, Herrup K. (2008) Nuclear localization of Cdk5 is a key determinant in the postmitotic state of neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 105(25):8772-7.

Zanjani HS, Mariani J, Herrup K. (2007) Cell loss in the inferior olive of the staggerer mutant mouse is an indirect effect of the gene. J Neurogenet. 21(4):257-69.

Wang L, Wang R, Herrup K. (2007) E2F1 works as a cell cycle suppressor in mature neurons.
J Neurosci. 27(46):12555-64.

Romito-DiGiacomo RR, Menegay H, Cicero SA, Herrup K. (2007) Effects of Alzheimer's disease on different cortical layers: the role of intrinsic differences in Abeta susceptibility.
J Neurosci. 27(32):8496-504.

Herrup K, Yang Y. (2007) Cell cycle regulation in the postmitotic neuron: oxymoron or new biology? Nat Rev Neurosci. 8(5):368-78.

Yang, Y. and Herrup, K. (2007). Cell division in the CNS: protective response or lethal event in post-mitotic neurons? Biochim Biophys Acta. 1772(4):457-66.

Murcia, C.L., Gulden, F.O., Cherosky, N.A. and Herrup, K. (2006). A genetic study of the suppressors of the Engrailed-1 cerebellar phenotype. Brain Res., Jul 31; [Epub ahead of print].

Fritsch, T., Adams, K.B., Redd, D., Sias, T., and Herrup, K. (2006). Use of live theater to increase minority participation in Alzheimer’s disease research. Alz. Dis. Assoc. Disord. 20:105-111.

Yang, Y., Varvel, N.H., Lamb, B.T. and Herrup, K. (2006). Ectopic cell cycle events link human Alzheimer's disease and APP transgenic mouse models. J. Neurosci. 26:775-784.

Cicero, S.A. and Herrup, K. (2005). Cdk5 is essential for neuronal cell cycle arrest and differentiation. J. Neurosci. 25:9658-9668.

Murcia, C.L., Gulden, F, and Herrup, K. (2005). A question of balance: a proposal for new mouse models of autism. Int J. Devel. Neruosci. 23:265-275.

Yang. Y. and Herrup, K. (2005). Loss of neuronal cell cycle control in ataxia-telangiectasia: a unified disease mechanism. J. Neurosci. 25:2522-2529.

Romito-DiGiacomo, R.R., Walther, E.U., Williams, E.A. and Herrup, K. (2005). Purkinje cell-specific expression of the Aldolase C gene in transgenic mice is directed by an upstream regulatory element. Mol. Brain Res. 133:47-57.

Herrup, K., Neve, R., Ackerman, S. and Copani, A. (2004). Divide and die: cell cycle events as triggers of nerve cell death. J. Neurosci., 24:9232-9239.
Yang, Y. and Herrup, K. (2006). Cell division in the CNS: protective response or lethal event in post-mitotic neurons? Biochim. Biophys. Acta., in press.

Murcia, C.L., Gulden, F.O., Cherosky, N.A. and Herrup, K. (2006). A genetic study of the suppressors of the Engrailed-1 cerebellar phenotype. Brain Res., Jul 31; [Epub ahead of print].

Fritsch, T., Adams, K.B., Redd, D., Sias, T., and Herrup, K. (2006). Use of live theater to increase minority participation in Alzheimer’s disease research. Alz. Dis. Assoc. Disord. 20:105-111.

Yang, Y., Varvel, N.H., Lamb, B.T. and Herrup, K. (2006). Ectopic cell cycle events link human Alzheimer's disease and APP transgenic mouse models. J. Neurosci. 26:775-784.

Cicero, S.A. and Herrup, K. (2005). Cdk5 is essential for neuronal cell cycle arrest and differentiation. J. Neurosci. 25:9658-9668.

Murcia, C.L., Gulden, F, and Herrup, K. (2005). A question of balance: a proposal for new mouse models of autism. Int J. Devel. Neruosci. 23:265-275.

Yang. Y. and Herrup, K. (2005). Loss of neuronal cell cycle control in ataxia-telangiectasia: a unified disease mechanism. J. Neurosci. 25:2522-2529.

Romito-DiGiacomo, R.R., Walther, E.U., Williams, E.A. and Herrup, K. (2005). Purkinje cell-specific expression of the Aldolase C gene in transgenic mice is directed by an upstream regulatory element. Mol. Brain Res. 133:47-57.

Herrup, K., Neve, R., Ackerman, S. and Copani, A. (2004). Divide and die: cell cycle events as triggers of nerve cell death. J. Neurosci., 24:9232-9239.