On Monday November 20, 2006, Orla Conneely PhD of the Baylor College of Medicine will present "NR4a Nuclear receptor transcription factors function as novel leukemic tumor suppressors" at the BU main campus. This talk will begin at noon in LSEB B01.
Monday November 20, 2006
12 noon
LSEB BO1
The Conneely Lab-Role of Nuclear Receptors in Transcriptional Regulation of Vertebrate Development.
The objective of our research is to establish the role of nuclear receptors in vertebrate development. Nuclear receptors comprise a large family of structurally related transcription factors regulate the expression of genes that control a variety of developmental and physiological responses to diverse stimuli. Specifically, we aim to elucidate the physiological role of members of two different subfamilies of nuclear receptors, progesterone receptors and the nur subfamily of nuclear receptors. Progesterone is a key regulator of female reproductive activity. The effects of P are mediated by two receptor proteins (PR), termed A and B, that arise from a single gene and act as ligand activated transcription factors to regulate the expression of reproductive target genes. We have shown that null mutation of the PR gene in mice (PRKO) leads to pleiotropic reproductive abnormalities. More recently, we have begun to address the selective physiological roles of the PR-A and PR-B isoforms by ablation of individual isoform expression in embryonic stem cells. Our data indicates that these isoforms mediate the reproductive effects of progesterone in a different tissue specific manner. Currently, we are examining the mechanisms that lead to differential tissue selective functions of these isoforms. The nur subfamily comprises three proteins that, unlike the progesterone receptors, can function as constitutively active transcription factors that do not appear to require a ligand for activation. Using similar gene targeting approaches together with in vitro assay systems we have shown that two members of this subfamily, nurr1 and nor-1 are key regulators of diverse developmental and physiological events including, differentiation of mid-brain dopaminergic neurons, neuroendocrine regulation of gene expression, inner ear development and inflammatory responses to cytokines. We are currently exploring the mechanisms by which both proteins contribute these developmental and physiological pathways and we are attempting to identify nur dependent target genes that mediate these events.
If you would like an opportunity to meet with Dr. Conneely, please e-mail Sherry Sawyer.
