Lane Christenson, Ph.D.

Understanding the events involved in follicular development and luteal tissue formation (i.e., ovulation, oocyte maturation and luteinization) impacts reproductive fertility, a major health concern for women. While the mid-cycle surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers these events, much less is known about the genes, signaling cascades and regulatory mechanisms downstream of this endocrine event at the ovarian level. We are utilizing a variety of techniques, (i.e., chromatin immunoprecipitation, microarray, quantitative real-time PCR and molecular genetics) to identify and study novel target genes downstream of two essential transcription factors (progesterone receptor and CCAAT-enhancer binding protein-b) necessary for ovulation. Additionally, we are elucidating the level and significance of a novel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism (a.k.a. Ribonomics) involvement in the ovulatory process. Lastly, we are refining the methodology used to generate oocytes from embryonic stem cells, in order to answer fundamental questions regarding follicular development and the interaction of germ and somatic cells.