Interest Areas Of My Research Group
Dr. Roberts’ laboratory conducts research in four main areas. We study the transcriptional controls operating over genes first expressed during the specification of trophectoderm (the precursor of the placental trophoblast and the first differentiated tissue of the mammalian embryo). The genes of particular interest are those for interferon-tau in bovine embryos, and for the sub-units of human chorionic gonadotrophin. The research focuses on the roles of Oct-4, a transcriptional silencer, and Ets-2, Dlx-3, and Cdx-2, which appear to be transcriptional activators. These same transcription factors also seem to be required for proper differentiation of trophectoderm from its pluripotent precursor cells.
Second, we are studying how the concentration of oxygen in the gas atmosphere to which human embryonic stem cells are exposed influences their differentiation, particularly when the cells are directed towards trophoblast by the addition of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4). The laboratory is using this cell system as a model to understand how trophoblast is specified, how it subsequently differentiates, and what can go wrong with the process.
In a third, related area, we are attempting to determine when the lineage to trophectoderm is specified during development of the mouse and bovine embryo and especially whether developmental direction is pre-patterned in the oocyte.
Our fourth interest is in the manner by which maternal diet can influence the sex of offspring in mice and livestock species, and particularly why in mice a diet high in saturated fats can skew sex ratio of pups towards sons while a diet very low in fat favors the birth of daughters.
The laboratory is supported by grants from National Institutes of health and USDA, and by support from the University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. |
Roberts Research Group-CS Bond Life Sciences Center