Margarita Behrens, PhD

Research Professor

Computational Neurobiology Laboratory

Salk Institute for Biological Studies - Publications

all Publications


Zhou, J., Zhang, Z., Wu, M., Liu, H., Pang, Y., Bartlett, A., Peng, Z., Ding, W., Rivkin, A., Lagos, W.N., Williams, E., Lee, C.T., Miyazaki, P.A., Aldridge, A., Zeng, Q., Salinda, J.L.A., Claffey, N., Liem, M., Fitzpatrick, C., Boggeman, L., Yao, Z., Smith, K.A., Tasic, B., Altshul, J., Kenworthy, M.A., Valadon, C., Nery, J.R., Castanon, R.G., Patne, N.S., Vu, M., Rashid, M., Jacobs, M., Ito, T., Osteen, J., Emerson, N., Lee, J., Cho, S., Rink, J., Huang, H.H., Pinto-Duartec, A., Dominguez, B., Smith, J.B., O'Connor, C., Zeng, H., Chen, S., Lee, K.F., Mukamel, E.A., Jin, X., Margarita Behrens, M., Ecker, J.R., Callaway, E.M. Brain-wide correspondence of neuronal epigenomics and distant projections. (2023) Nature. 624(7991):355-365. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06823-w

+ expand abstract


Zemke, N.R., Armand, E.J., Wang, W., Lee, S., Zhou, J., Li, Y.E., Liu, H., Tian, W., Nery, J.R., Castanon, R.G., Bartlett, A., Osteen, J.K., Li, D., Zhuo, X., Xu, V., Chang, L., Dong, K., Indralingam, H.S., Rink, J.A., Xie, Y., Miller, M., Krienen, F.M., Zhang, Q., Taskin, N., Ting, J., Feng, G., McCarroll, S.A., Callaway, E.M., Wang, T., Lein, E.S., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R., Ren, B. Conserved and divergent gene regulatory programs of the mammalian neocortex. (2023) Nature. 624(7991):390-402. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06819-6

+ expand abstract


Zu, S., Li, Y.E., Wang, K., Armand, E.J., Mamde, S., Amaral, M.L., Wang, Y., Chu, A., Xie, Y., Miller, M., Xu, J., Wang, Z., Zhang, K., Jia, B., Hou, X., Lin, L., Yang, Q., Lee, S., Li, B., Kuan, S., Liu, H., Zhou, J., Pinto-Duarte, A., Lucero, J., Osteen, J., Nunn, M., Smith, K.A., Tasic, B., Yao, Z., Zeng, H., Wang, Z., Shang, J., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R., Wang, A., Preissl, S., Ren, B. Single-cell analysis of chromatin accessibility in the adult mouse brain. (2023) Nature. 624(7991):378-389. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06824-9

+ expand abstract


Liu, H., Zeng, Q., Zhou, J., Bartlett, A., Wang, B.A., Berube, P., Tian, W., Kenworthy, M., Altshul, J., Nery, J.R., Chen, H., Castanon, R.G., Zu, S., Li, Y.E., Lucero, J., Osteen, J.K., Pinto-Duarte, A., Lee, J., Rink, J., Cho, S., Emerson, N., Nunn, M., O'Connor, C., Wu, Z., Stoica, I., Yao, Z., Smith, K.A., Tasic, B., Luo, C., Dixon, J.R., Zeng, H., Ren, B., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R. Single-cell DNA methylome and 3D multi-omic atlas of the adult mouse brain. (2023) Nature. 624(7991):366-377. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06805-y

+ expand abstract


Mukamel, E.A., Liu, H., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R. Cell type-specific enrichment of somatic aneuploidy in the mammalian brain. (2023) bioRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.18.572285

+ expand abstract


Tian, W., Zhou, J., Bartlett, A., Zeng, Q., Liu, H., Castanon, R.G., Kenworthy, M., Altshul, J., Valadon, C., Aldridge, A., Nery, J.R., Chen, H., Xu, J., Johnson, N.D., Lucero, J., Osteen, J.K., Emerson, N., Rink, J., Lee, J., Li, Y.E., Siletti, K., Liem, M., Claffey, N., O'Connor, C., Yanny, A.M., Nyhus, J., Dee, N., Casper, T., Shapovalova, N., Hirschstein, D., Ding, S.L., Hodge, R., Levi, B.P., Keene, C.D., Linnarsson, S., Lein, E., Ren, B., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R. Single-cell DNA methylation and 3D genome architecture in the human brain. Link to free full-text https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adf5357 [Pubmed] (2023) Science. 382(6667):eadf5357. DOI: 10.1126/science.adf5357

+ expand abstract


Li, Y.E., Preissl, S., Miller, M., Johnson, N.D., Wang, Z., Jiao, H., Zhu, C., Wang, Z., Xie, Y., Poirion, O., Kern, C., Pinto-Duarte, A., Tian, W., Siletti, K., Emerson, N., Osteen, J., Lucero, J., Lin, L., Yang, Q., Zhu, Q., Zemke, N., Espinoza, S., Yanny, A.M., Nyhus, J., Dee, N., Casper, T., Shapovalova, N., Hirschstein, D., Hodge, R.D., Linnarsson, S., Bakken, T., Levi, B., Keene, C.D., Shang, J., Lein, E., Wang, A., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R., Ren, B. A comparative atlas of single-cell chromatin accessibility in the human brain. (2023) Science. 382(6667):eadf7044. DOI: 10.1126/science.adf7044

+ expand abstract


Xie, F., Armand, E.J., Yao, Z., Liu, H., Bartlett, A., Behrens, M.M., Li, Y.E., Lucero, J.D., Luo, C., Nery, J.R., Pinto-Duarte, A., Poirion, O.B., Preissl, S., Rivkin, A.C., Tasic, B., Zeng, H., Ren, B., Ecker, J.R., Mukamel, E.A. Robust enhancer-gene regulation identified by single-cell transcriptomes and epigenomes. (2023) Cell Genom. 3(7):100342. DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100342

+ expand abstract


Zemke, N.R., Armand, E.J., Wang, W., Lee, S., Zhou, J., Li, Y.E., Liu, H., Tian, W., Nery, J.R., Castanon, R.G., Bartlett, A., Osteen, J.K., Li, D., Zhuo, X., Xu, V., Miller, M., Krienen, F.M., Zhang, Q., Taskin, N., Ting, J., Feng, G., McCarroll, S.A., Callaway, E.M., Wang, T., Behrens, M.M., Lein, E.S., Ecker, J.R., Ren, B. Comparative single cell epigenomic analysis of gene regulatory programs in the rodent and primate neocortex. (2023) bioRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.08.536119

+ expand abstract


Li, J., Pinto-Duarte, A., Zander, M., Cuoco, M.S., Lai, C.Y., Osteen, J., Fang, L., Luo, C., Lucero, J.D., Gomez-Castanon, R., Nery, J.R., Silva-Garcia, I., Pang, Y., Sejnowski, T.J., Powell, S.B., Ecker, J.R., Mukamel, E.A., Behrens, M.M. Dnmt3a knockout in excitatory neurons impairs postnatal synapse maturation and increases the repressive histone modification H3K27me3. (2022) Elife. 11. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.66909

+ expand abstract


Luo, C., Liu, H., Xie, F., Armand, E.J., Siletti, K., Bakken, T.E., Fang, R., Doyle, W.I., Stuart, T., Hodge, R.D., Hu, L., Wang, B.A., Zhang, Z., Preissl, S., Lee, D.S., Zhou, J., Niu, S.Y., Castanon, R., Bartlett, A., Rivkin, A., Wang, X., Lucero, J., Nery, J.R., Davis, D.A., Mash, D.C., Satija, R., Dixon, J.R., Linnarsson, S., Lein, E., Behrens, M.M., Ren, B., Mukamel, E.A., Ecker, J.R. Single nucleus multi-omics identifies human cortical cell regulatory genome diversity. (2022) Cell Genom. 2(3). DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100107

+ expand abstract


Liu, H., Zhou, J., Tian, W., Luo, C., Bartlett, A., Aldridge, A., Lucero, J., Osteen, J.K., Nery, J.R., Chen, H., Rivkin, A., Castanon, R.G., Clock, B., Li, Y.E., Hou, X., Poirion, O.B., Preissl, S., Pinto-Duarte, A., O'Connor, C., Boggeman, L., Fitzpatrick, C., Nunn, M., Mukamel, E.A., Zhang, Z., Callaway, E.M., Ren, B., Dixon, J.R., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R. DNA methylation atlas of the mouse brain at single-cell resolution. (2021) Nature. 598(7879):120-128. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-03182-8

+ expand abstract


Zhang, Z., Zhou, J., Tan, P., Pang, Y., Rivkin, A.C., Kirchgessner, M.A., Williams, E., Lee, C.T., Liu, H., Franklin, A.D., Miyazaki, P.A., Bartlett, A., Aldridge, A.I., Vu, M., Boggeman, L., Fitzpatrick, C., Nery, J.R., Castanon, R.G., Rashid, M., Jacobs, M.W., Ito-Cole, T., O'Connor, C., Pinto-Duartec, A., Dominguez, B., Smith, J.B., Niu, S.Y., Lee, K.F., Jin, X., Mukamel, E.A., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R., Callaway, E.M. Epigenomic diversity of cortical projection neurons in the mouse brain. (2021) Nature. 598(7879):167-173. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03223-w

+ expand abstract


Li, Y.E., Preissl, S., Hou, X., Zhang, Z., Zhang, K., Qiu, Y., Poirion, O.B., Li, B., Chiou, J., Liu, H., Pinto-Duarte, A., Kubo, N., Yang, X., Fang, R., Wang, X., Han, J.Y., Lucero, J., Yan, Y., Miller, M., Kuan, S., Gorkin, D., Gaulton, K.J., Shen, Y., Nunn, M., Mukamel, E.A., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R., Ren, B. An atlas of gene regulatory elements in adult mouse cerebrum. (2021) Nature. 598(7879):129-136. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03604-1

+ expand abstract


Yao, Z., Liu, H., Xie, F., Fischer, S., Adkins, R.S., Aldridge, A.I., Ament, S.A., Bartlett, A., Behrens, M.M., Van den Berge, K., Bertagnolli, D., de Bézieux, H.R., Biancalani, T., Booeshaghi, A.S., Bravo, H.C., Casper, T., Colantuoni, C., Crabtree, J., Creasy, H., Crichton, K., Crow, M., Dee, N., Dougherty, E.L., Doyle, W.I., Dudoit, S., Fang, R., Felix, V., Fong, O., Giglio, M., Goldy, J., Hawrylycz, M., Herb, B.R., Hertzano, R., Hou, X., Hu, Q., Kancherla, J., Kroll, M., Lathia, K., Li, Y.E., Lucero, J.D., Luo, C., Mahurkar, A., McMillen, D., Nadaf, N.M., Nery, J.R., Nguyen, T.N., Niu, S.Y., Ntranos, V., Orvis, J., Osteen, J.K., Pham, T., Pinto-Duarte, A., Poirion, O., Preissl, S., Purdom, E., Rimorin, C., Risso, D., Rivkin, A.C., Smith, K., Street, K., Sulc, J., Svensson, V., Tieu, M., Torkelson, A., Tung, H., Vaishnav, E.D., Vanderburg, C.R., van Velthoven, C., Wang, X., White, O.R., Huang, Z.J., Kharchenko, P.V., Pachter, L., Ngai, J., Regev, A., Tasic, B., Welch, J.D., Gillis, J., Macosko, E.Z., Ren, B., Ecker, J.R., Zeng, H., Mukamel, E.A. A transcriptomic and epigenomic cell atlas of the mouse primary motor cortex. (2021) Nature. 598(7879):103-110. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03500-8

+ expand abstract


Bakken, T.E., Jorstad, N.L., Hu, Q., Lake, B.B., Tian, W., Kalmbach, B.E., Crow, M., Hodge, R.D., Krienen, F.M., Sorensen, S.A., Eggermont, J., Yao, Z., Aevermann, B.D., Aldridge, A.I., Bartlett, A., Bertagnolli, D., Casper, T., Castanon, R.G., Crichton, K., Daigle, T.L., Dalley, R., Dee, N., Dembrow, N., Diep, D., Ding, S.L., Dong, W., Fang, R., Fischer, S., Goldman, M., Goldy, J., Graybuck, L.T., Herb, B.R., Hou, X., Kancherla, J., Kroll, M., Lathia, K., van Lew, B., Li, Y.E., Liu, C.S., Liu, H., Lucero, J.D., Mahurkar, A., McMillen, D., Miller, J.A., Moussa, M., Nery, J.R., Nicovich, P.R., Niu, S.Y., Orvis, J., Osteen, J.K., Owen, S., Palmer, C.R., Pham, T., Plongthongkum, N., Poirion, O., Reed, N.M., Rimorin, C., Rivkin, A., Romanow, W.J., Sedeño-Cortés, A.E., Siletti, K., Somasundaram, S., Sulc, J., Tieu, M., Torkelson, A., Tung, H., Wang, X., Xie, F., Yanny, A.M., Zhang, R., Ament, S.A., Behrens, M.M., Bravo, H.C., Chun, J., Dobin, A., Gillis, J., Hertzano, R., Hof, P.R., Höllt, T., Horwitz, G.D., Keene, C.D., Kharchenko, P.V., Ko, A.L., Lelieveldt, B.P., Luo, C., Mukamel, E.A., Pinto-Duarte, A., Preissl, S., Regev, A., Ren, B., Scheuermann, R.H., Smith, K., Spain, W.J., White, O.R., Koch, C., Hawrylycz, M., Tasic, B., Macosko, E.Z., McCarroll, S.A., Ting, J.T., Zeng, H., Zhang, K., Feng, G., Ecker, J.R., Linnarsson, S., Lein, E.S. Comparative cellular analysis of motor cortex in human, marmoset and mouse. (2021) Nature. 598(7879):111-119. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03465-8

+ expand abstract


Gao, C., Liu, J., Kriebel, A.R., Preissl, S., Luo, C., Castanon, R., Sandoval, J., Rivkin, A., Nery, J.R., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R., Ren, B., Welch, J.D. Iterative single-cell multi-omic integration using online learning. (2021) Nature Biotechnology. DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-00867-x

+ expand abstract


Zhu, C., Zhang, Y., Li, Y.E., Lucero, J., Behrens, M.M., Ren, B. Joint profiling of histone modifications and transcriptome in single cells from mouse brain. (2021) Nature Methods. DOI: 10.1038/s41592-021-01060-3

+ expand abstract


Fang, R., Preissl, S., Li, Y., Hou, X., Lucero, J., Wang, X., Motamedi, A., Shiau, A.K., Zhou, X., Xie, F., Mukamel, E.A., Zhang, K., Zhang, Y., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R., Ren, B. Comprehensive analysis of single cell ATAC-seq data with SnapATAC. (2021) Nature Communications. 12(1):1337. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21583-9

+ expand abstract


Lavery, L.A., Ure, K., Wan, Y.W., Luo, C., Trostle, A.J., Wang, W., Jin, H., Lopez, J., Lucero, J., Durham, M.A., Castanon, R., Nery, J.R., Liu, Z., Goodell, M., Ecker, J.R., Behrens, M.M., Zoghbi, H.Y. Losing Dnmt3a dependent methylation in inhibitory neurons impairs neural function by a mechanism impacting Rett syndrome. (2020) Elife. 9. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.52981

+ expand abstract


Zhu, C., Yu, M., Huang, H., Juric, I., Abnousi, A., Hu, R., Lucero, J., Behrens, M.M., Hu, M., Ren, B. An ultra high-throughput method for single-cell joint analysis of open chromatin and transcriptome. (2019) Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. 26:1063–1070. DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0323-x

+ expand abstract


Amodeo, D.A., Lai, C.Y., Hassan, O., Mukamel, E.A., Behrens, M.M., Powell, S.B. Maternal immune activation impairs cognitive flexibility and alters transcription in frontal cortex. (2019) Neurobiology of Disease. 125:211-218. DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.01.025

+ expand abstract


Luo, C., Rivkin, A., Zhou, J., Sandoval, J.P., Kurihara, L., Lucero, J., Castanon, R., Nery, J.R., Pinto-Duarte, A., Bui, B., Fitzpatrick, C., O'Connor, C., Ruga, S., Van Eden, M.E., Davis, D.A., Mash, D.C., Behrens, M.M., Ecker, J.R. Robust single-cell DNA methylome profiling with snmC-seq2. (2018) Nature Communications. 9(1):3824. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06355-2

+ expand abstract


Wang, X., Pinto-Duarte, A., Behrens, M.M., Zhou, X., Sejnowski, T.J. Ketamine independently modulated power and phase-coupling of theta oscillations in Sp4 hypomorphic mice. (2018) PLOS One. 13(3):e0193446. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193446

+ expand abstract


Luo, C., Keown, C.L., Kurihara, L., Zhou, J., He, Y., Li, J., Castanon, R., Lucero, J., Nery, J.R., Sandoval, J.P., Bui, B., Sejnowski, T.J., Harkins, T.T., Mukamel, E.A.*, Behrens, M.M.*, Ecker, J.R.* Single-cell methylomes identify neuronal subtypes and regulatory elements in mammalian cortex. (2017) Science. 357(6351):600-604. DOI: 10.1126/science.aan3351

+ expand abstract


Khan, A., de Jong, L.A., Kamenski, M.E., Higa, K.K., Lucero, J.D., Young, J.W., Behrens, M.M.*, Powell, S.B.* Adolescent GBR12909 exposure induces oxidative stress, disrupts parvalbumin-positive interneurons, and leads to hyperactivity and impulsivity in adult mice. (2017) Neuroscience. 345:166-175. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.11.022

+ expand abstract


Jadi, M.P., Behrens, M.M., Sejnowski, T.J. Abnormal Gamma Oscillations in N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Hypofunction Models of Schizophrenia. (2016) Biological Psychiatry. 79(9):716-26. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.005

+ expand abstract


Wang, X., Pinto-Duarte, A., Behrens, M.M., Zhou, X., Sejnowski, T.J. Characterization of spatio-temporal epidural event-related potentials for mouse models of psychiatric disorders. (2015) Scientific Reports. 5:14964. DOI: 10.1038/srep14964

+ expand abstract


Barnes, S.A., Pinto-Duarte, A., Kappe, A., Zembrzycki, A., Metzler, A., Mukamel, E.A., Lucero, J., Wang, X., Sejnowski, T.J., Markou, A.*, Behrens, M.M.* Disruption of mGluR5 in parvalbumin-positive interneurons induces core features of neurodevelopmental disorders. (2015) Molecular Psychiatry. 20(10):1161-72. DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.113

+ expand abstract


Powell, S.B., Khan, A., Young, J.W., Scott, C.N., Buell, M.R., Caldwell, S., Tsan, E., de Jong, L.A., Acheson, D.T., Lucero, J., Geyer, M.A., Behrens, M.M. Early Adolescent Emergence of Reversal Learning Impairments in Isolation-Reared Rats. (2015) Developmental Neuroscience. 37(3):253-62. DOI: 10.1159/000430091

+ expand abstract


Lister, R.*, Mukamel, E.A., Nery, J.R., Urich, M., Puddifoot, C.A., Johnson, N.D., Lucero, J., Huang, Y., Dwork, A.J., Schultz, M.D., Yu, M., Tonti-Filippini, J., Heyn, H., Hu, S., Wu, J.C., Rao, A., Esteller, M., He, C., Haghighi, F.G., Sejnowski, T.J., Behrens, M.M.*, Ecker, J.R.* Global epigenomic reconfiguration during mammalian brain development. (2013) Science. 341(6146):1237905. DOI: 10.1126/science.1237905

+ expand abstract


Ji, B., Wang, X., Pinto-Duarte, A., Kim, M., Caldwell, S., Young, J.W., Behrens, M.M., Sejnowski, T.J., Geyer, M.A., Zhou, X. Prolonged Ketamine Effects in Sp4 Hypomorphic Mice: Mimicking Phenotypes of Schizophrenia. (2013) PLOS One. 8(6):e66327. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066327

+ expand abstract


Wang, X., Pinto-Duarte, A., Sejnowski, T.J., Behrens, M.M. How Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase affects cortical circuits in the NMDA receptor antagonist model of schizophrenia. (2013) Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 18(12):1444-62. DOI: 10.1089/ars.2012.4907

+ expand abstract


Powell, S.B., Sejnowski, T.J., Behrens, M.M. Behavioral and neurochemical consequences of cortical oxidative stress on parvalbumin-interneuron maturation in rodent models of schizophrenia. (2012) Neuropharmacology. 62(3):1322-31. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.01.049

+ expand abstract


Amitai, N., Kuczenski, R., Behrens, M.M., Markou, A. Repeated phencyclidine administration alters glutamate release and decreases GABA markers in the prefrontal cortex of rats. (2012) Neuropharmacology. 62(3):1422-31. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.01.008

+ expand abstract


Volman, V., Behrens, M.M., Sejnowski, T.J. Downregulation of parvalbumin at cortical GABA synapses reduces network gamma oscillatory activity. (2011) Journal of Neuroscience. 31(49):18137-48. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3041-11.2011

+ expand abstract


Loomis, W.F., Behrens, M.M., Williams, M.E., Anjard, C. Pregnenolone sulfate and cortisol induce secretion of acyl-CoA-binding protein and its conversion into endozepines from astrocytes. (2010) Journal of biological chemistry. 285(28):21359-65. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M110.105858

+ expand abstract


Kinney, J.W., Sanchez-Alavez, M., Barr, A.M., Criado, J.R., Crawley, J.N., Behrens, M.M., Henriksen, S.J., Bartfai, T. Impairment of memory consolidation by galanin correlates with in vivo inhibition of both LTP and CREB phosphorylation. (2009) Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. 92(3):429-38. DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2009.06.005

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Sejnowski, T.J. Does schizophrenia arise from oxidative dysregulation of parvalbumin-interneurons in the developing cortex? (2009) Neuropharmacology. 57(3):193-200. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.06.002

+ expand abstract


Dugan, L.L., Ali, S.S., Shekhtman, G., Roberts, A.J., Lucero, J., Quick, K.L., Behrens, M.M. IL-6 mediated degeneration of forebrain GABAergic interneurons and cognitive impairment in aged mice through activation of neuronal NADPH oxidase. (2009) PLOS One. 4(5):e5518. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005518

+ expand abstract


Lodge, D.J., Behrens, M.M., Grace, A.A. A loss of parvalbumin-containing interneurons is associated with diminished oscillatory activity in an animal model of schizophrenia. (2009) Journal of neuroscience . 29(8):2344-54. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5419-08.2009

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Ali, S.S., Dugan, L.L. Interleukin-6 mediates the increase in NADPH-oxidase in the ketamine model of schizophrenia. (2008) Journal of Neuroscience. 28(51):13957-66. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4457-08.2008

+ expand abstract


Zhang, Y., Behrens, M.M., Lisman, J.E. Prolonged exposure to NMDAR antagonist suppresses inhibitory synaptic transmission in prefrontal cortex. (2008) Journal of Neurophysiology. 100(2):959-65. DOI: 10.1152/jn.00079.2008

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M.*, Ali, S.S., Dao, D.N., Lucero, J., Shekhtman, G., Quick, K.L., Dugan, L.L.* Ketamine-induced loss of phenotype of fast-spiking interneurons is mediated by NADPH-oxidase. (2007) Science. 318(5856):1645-7. DOI: 10.1126/science.1148045

+ expand abstract


Ali, S.S., Xiong, C., Lucero, J., Behrens, M.M., Dugan, L.L., Quick, K.L. Gender differences in free radical homeostasis during aging: shorter-lived female C57BL6 mice have increased oxidative stress. (2006) Aging Cell. 5(6):565-74. DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2006.00252.x

+ expand abstract


Davis, C.N., Tabarean, I., Gaidarova, S., Behrens, M.M., Bartfai, T. IL-1beta induces a MyD88-dependent and ceramide-mediated activation of Src in anterior hypothalamic neurons. (2006) J. Neurochem. 98(5):1379-89. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03951.x

+ expand abstract


Davis, C.N., Mann, E., Behrens, M.M., Gaidarova, S., Rebek, M., Rebek, J., Bartfai, T. MyD88-dependent and -independent signaling by IL-1 in neurons probed by bifunctional Toll/IL-1 receptor domain/BB-loop mimetics. (2006) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103(8):2953-8. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0510802103

+ expand abstract


Sanchez-Alavez, M., Tabarean, I.V., Behrens, M.M., Bartfai, T. Ceramide mediates the rapid phase of febrile response to IL-1beta. (2006) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103(8):2904-8. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0510960103

+ expand abstract


Kinney, J.W., Davis, C.N., Tabarean, I., Conti, B., Bartfai, T., Behrens, M.M. A specific role for NR2A-containing NMDA receptors in the maintenance of parvalbumin and GAD67 immunoreactivity in cultured interneurons. (2006) Journal of Neuroscience. 26(5):1604-15. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4722-05.2006

+ expand abstract


Tabarean, I.V., Conti, B., Behrens, M.M., Korn, H., Bartfai (2005) Neuroscience. 135(2):433-449. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.06.053

+ expand abstract


Badie-Mahdavi, H., Behrens, M.M., Rebek, J., Bartfai, T. Effect of galnon on induction of long-term potentiation in dentate gyrus of C57BL/6 mice. (2005) Neuropeptides. 39(3):249-51. DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2004.12.010

+ expand abstract


Badie-Mahdavi, H., Lu, X., Behrens, M.M., Bartfai, T. Role of galanin receptor 1 and galanin receptor 2 activation in synaptic plasticity associated with 3',5'-cyclic AMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation in the dentate gyrus: studies with (2005) Neuroscience. 133(2):591-604. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.02.042

+ expand abstract


Conti, B., Sugama, S., Lucero, J., Winsky-Sommerer, R., Wirz, S.A., Maher, P., Andrews, Z., Barr, A.M., Morale, M.C., Paneda, C., Pemberton, J., Gaidarova, S., Behrens, M.M., Beal, F., Sanna, P.P., Horvath, T., Bartfai, T. Uncoupling protein 2 protects dopaminergic neurons from acute 1,2,3,6-methyl-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine toxicity. (2005) Journal of Neurochemistry. 93(2):493-501. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03052.x

+ expand abstract


Lu, X., Barr, A.M., Kinney, J.W., Sanna, P., Conti, B., Behrens, M.M., Bartfai, T. A role for galanin in antidepressant actions with a focus on the dorsal raphe nucleus. (2005) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 102(3):874-9. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0408891102

+ expand abstract


Dubé, C., Vezzani, A., Behrens, M., Bartfai, T., Baram, T.Z. Interleukin-1beta contributes to the generation of experimental febrile seizures. (2005) Ann. Neurol. 57(1):152-5. DOI: 10.1002/ana.20358

+ expand abstract


Tabarean, I.V., Behrens, M.M., Bartfai, T., Korn, H. Prostaglandin E2-increased thermosensitivity of anterior hypothalamic neurons is associated with depressed inhibition. (2004) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101(8):2590-5. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0308718101

+ expand abstract


Kim, H.J., Hwang, J.J., Behrens, M.M., Snider, B.J., Choi, D.W., Koh, J.Y. TrkB mediates BDNF-induced potentiation of neuronal necrosis in cortical culture. (2003) Neurobiol. Dis. 14(1):110-9.

+ expand abstract


Viviani, B., Bartesaghi, S., Gardoni, F., Vezzani, A., Behrens, M.M., Bartfai, T., Binaglia, M., Corsini, E., Di Luca, M., Galli, C.L., Marinovich, M. Interleukin-1beta enhances NMDA receptor-mediated intracellular calcium increase through activation of the Src family of kinases. (2003) Journal of Neuroscience. 23(25):8692-700.

+ expand abstract


Bartfai, T., Behrens, M.M., Gaidarova, S., Pemberton, J., Shivanyuk, A., Rebek, J. A low molecular weight mimic of the Toll/IL-1 receptor/resistance domain inhibits IL-1 receptor-mediated responses. (2003) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 100(13):7971-6. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0932746100

+ expand abstract


Heidinger, V., Manzerra, P., Wang, X.Q., Strasser, U., Yu, S.P., Choi, D.W., Behrens, M.M. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1-induced upregulation of NMDA receptor current: mediation through the Pyk2/Src-family kinase pathway in cortical neurons. (2002) Journal of Neuroscience. 22(13):5452-61. DOI: 20026565

+ expand abstract


Manzerra, P., Behrens, M.M., Canzoniero, L.M., Wang, X.Q., Heidinger, V., Ichinose, T., Yu, S.P., Choi, D.W. Zinc induces a Src family kinase-mediated up-regulation of NMDA receptor activity and excitotoxicity. (2001) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 98(20):11055-61. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.191353598

+ expand abstract


Moreno-Bueno, G., Calés, C., Behrens, M.M., Fernández-Renart, M. Isolation and characterization of casein kinase I from Dictyostelium discoideum. (2000) Biochemical Journal. 349(Pt 2):527-37. DOI: 10.1042/0264-6021:3490527

+ expand abstract


Sheline, C.T., Behrens, M.M., Choi, D.W. Zinc-induced cortical neuronal death: contribution of energy failure attributable to loss of NAD(+) and inhibition of glycolysis. (2000) Journal of Neuroscience. 20(9):3139-46.

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Strasser, U., Heidinger, V., Lobner, D., Yu, S.P., McDonald, J.W., Won, M., Choi, D.W. Selective activation of group II mGluRs with LY354740 does not prevent neuronal excitotoxicity. (1999) Neuropharmacology. 38(10):1621-30. DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(99)00098-2

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Strasser, U., Koh, J.Y., Gwag, B.J., Choi, D.W. Prevention of neuronal apoptosis by phorbol ester-induced activation of protein kinase C: blockade of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. (1999) Neuroscience. 94(3):917-27. DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4522(99)00212-2

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Strasser, U., Lobner, D., Dugan, L.L. Neurotrophin-mediated potentiation of neuronal injury. (1999) Microsc. Res. Tech. 45(4-5):276-84. DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(19990515/01)45:4/5<276::AI

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Strasser, U., Choi, D.W. Gö 6976 is a potent inhibitor of neurotrophin-receptor intrinsic tyrosine kinase. (1999) J. Neurochem. 72(3):919-24. DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1999.0720919.x

+ expand abstract


García-Gallo, M., Behrens, M.M., Renart, J., Díaz-Guerra, M. Expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors using vaccinia virus causes excitotoxic death in human kidney cells. (1999) J. Cell. Biochem. 72(1):135-44.

+ expand abstract


Strasser, U., Lobner, D., Behrens, M.M., Canzoniero, L.M., Choi, D.W. Antagonists for group I mGluRs attenuate excitotoxic neuronal death in cortical cultures. (1998) European Journal of Neuroscience. 10(9):2848-55. DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1998.00291.x

+ expand abstract


Martínez, J.L., Behrens, M.M., Moratilla, C., Renart, J. Oleoylanilide, a possible causative agent of toxic oil syndrome, interferes with the cytoskeleton in a neuronal cell line. (1997) Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 19(2):147-50.

+ expand abstract


Boland, K., Behrens, M., Choi, D., Manias, K., Perlmutter, D.H. The serpin-enzyme complex receptor recognizes soluble, nontoxic amyloid-beta peptide but not aggregated, cytotoxic amyloid-beta peptide. (1996) Journal of Biological Chemistry. 271(30):18032-44. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.271.30.18032

+ expand abstract


Hewett, S.J., Misko, T.P., Keeling, R.M., Behrens, M.M., Choi, D.W., Cross, A.H. Murine encephalitogenic lymphoid cells induce nitric oxide synthase in primary astrocytes. (1996) Journal of Neuroimmunology. 64(2):201-8.

+ expand abstract


Gwag, B.J., Koh, J.Y., Chen, M.M., Dugan, L.L., Behrens, M.M., Lobner, D., Choi, D.W. BDNF or IGF-I potentiates free radical-mediated injury in cortical cell cultures. (1995) Neuroreport. 7(1):93-6.

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Martínez, J.L., Moratilla, C., Renart, J. Apoptosis induced by protein kinase C inhibition in a neuroblastoma cell line. (1995) Cell Growth & Differentiation. 6(11):1375-80.

+ expand abstract


Franco, E., Behrens, M.M., Díaz-Guerra, M., Renart, J. Structure and expression of a polyubiquitin gene from the crustacean Artemia. (1994) Gene Expression. 4(1-2):19-28.

+ expand abstract


Mazón, M.J., Behrens, M.M., Morgado, E., Portillo, F. Low activity of the yeast cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit Tpk3 is due to the poor expression of the TPK3 gene. (1993) European Journal of Biochemistry. 213(1):501-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1993.tb17787.x

+ expand abstract


Schwandner, W.R., Jiménez, B., Schwartz, A., Weijer, C.J., Behrens, M., Mazón, M.J., Fernández-Renart, M. Chemotactic stimulation of aggregation-stage Dictyostelium cells induces rapid changes in energy metabolism, as measured by succinic thiokinase phosphorylation. (1993) Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1176(1-2):175-82. DOI: 10.1016/0167-4889(93)90194-t

+ expand abstract


Mazón, M.J., Behrens, M.M., Portillo, F., Piñón, R. cAMP- and RAS-independent nutritional regulation of plasma-membrane H+-ATPase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (1989) J. Gen. Microbiol. 135(6):1453-60. DOI: 10.1099/00221287-135-6-1453

+ expand abstract


Behrens, M.M., Mazón, M.J. Yeast cAMP-dependent protein kinase can be associated to the plasma membrane. (1988) Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 151(1):561-7. DOI: 10.1016/0006-291x(88)90631-6

+ expand abstract


Education

BS, Biochemistry, University of Chile
MS, Biochemistry, University of Chile
PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Autonoma, Spain
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine


Awards & Honors

  • The Kavli Institute for Brain And Mind Innovative Research Grant, 2018
  • NARSAD Young Investigator Award, 2009
  • Daniel X. Freedman Award Honorable Mention, 2008
  • NARSAD Young Investigator Award, 2004
  • European Molecular Biology Organization Fellowship, 1991
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Fellowship, 1989
  • Federation of European Biochemical Societies Predoctoral Fellowship, 1988