Interest Areas Of My Research Group
A first area of interest is a study of the transcriptional control of expression of the interferon-tau genes (IFNT), whose protein products play a crucial role in establishing communication between the conceptus and mother during early pregnancy of cattle. With Angela Walker, a postdoctoral fellow, we have also recently initiated research on the evolution of the IFNT and the entire type 1 interferon locus in ruminant species and discovered an entirely new sub-family of interferon genes.
A second research area is utilizing human embryonic stem cells (hESC) as models for trophoblast differentiation. These cells can be directed to form colonies with many features of trophoblast when they are exposed to the growth factor BMP4. We are using this model system to explore the initial events that specify trophoblast, the progressive conversion of these cells to more differentiated lineages (especially one with the invasive phenotype of extra-villous trophoblast), and the role of oxygen in the differentiation process.
In a third area with Toshihiko Ezashi, a Research Assistant Professor, the laboratory has created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from porcine embryonic fibroblasts by re-programming. We are attempting to improve the efficiency of this process and exploring the possible use of such cells for tissue grafts of pigs. Reprogramming also led to the production of cell lines with the properties of trophoblast, thereby providing a potential source of trophoblast stem cells and a means for studying trophoblast specification.
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