Pancharatnam Jeyasuria Ph. D
Wayne State University
School of medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Physiology
email: suria@wayne.edu
Tel: (313) 577 2153
My research utilizes molecular and transgenic approaches to target my investigational interests in the field of reproductive endocrinology and physiology. A common thread in my projects is nuclear receptor function. I have recently focused on the characterization and functional analysis of alternate ERα isoforms, which I propose plays a critical role in regulating estrogen (E2) responsiveness in a spatial and gestationally regulated manner in the myometrial compartment of the pregnant uterus. This study has currently expanded to define the splicing mechanisms and factors that ultimately change the functionality of single genes to produce proteins of very different and sometimes contrary functions as they relate to the pregnant uterine myocyte. My focus in these studies is to understand the mechanisms that control the timing of labor and to ultimately explain the phenomenon of preterm birth. We have recently published research that provides evidence that an alternate splice isoform ERdelta7 plays a dominant negative role in estrogen action keeping the myometrium in a quiescent state prior to labor by blocking proteins involved in contraction. we beleive this allows us to use this phenomena to therapeutically prevent preterm birth/
My second research focus has been dedicated to understanding maternal fetal signalling with respect to the phenomena of imprinting, fetal growth and the timing of labor. To this end a transgenic approach was developed in my lab, using a conditional Cre-Lox strategy, where specific genes are functionally ablated in all fetuses while the maternal genome remains somatically normal. This strategy will be also used to target genes involved in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to ultimately study preeclampsia.
I have had a long standing interest in sex determination/differentiation, gonadal development and spermatogenesis. My previous work in the function of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, AD4BP, NR5A1) in Leydig cells using a tissue specific knockout strategy has led to identifying the developmental and functional significance of SF-1 in Sertoli cells in the testis. Our initial findings are that SF-1 is crucial for Sertoli cell survival and proliferation during development.
UROP Connect- Wayne State
C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development-
OB/GYN School Of Medicine Wayne State University
Wayne State School of Medicine- Physiology Department
Genetics, Development and Physiology of Mammalian Reproduction