Richard A. Maurer
Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology
To adapt to the environment, cells must respond to extracellular events with selective changes in gene expression. Receptor-regulated protein kinases are an important signaling mechanism which permits events at the cell membrane to alter the transcription of specific genes. This laboratory seeks to understand the intracellular signaling pathways which carry the message to the nucleus well as the nuclear events which mediate changes in pituitary hormone gene expression. Some of our studies examine the regulation of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone gene expression. These pituitary hormones are essential for normal reproductive function. We also study the regulation of prolactin, a pituitary hormone which is essential for lactation. The studies seek to identify the signal transduction pathways, specific DNA elements and transcription factors which are required for the tissue-specific, regulated expression of these pituitary hormone genes. Several recent studies have focused on the role of LIM homeodomain transcription factors and their co-activators in regulating pituitary hormone promoter activity.
- Glenn, D.J. and R.A. Maurer. (1999). MRG1 binds to the LIM domain of Lhx2 and may function as a coactivator to stimulate glycoprotein hormone a-subunit gene expression. J. Biol. Chem. 274, 36159-36167.
- Howard, P.W. and R.A. Maurer. (2000). Identification of a conserved protein that interacts with specific LIM homeodomain transcription factors. J. Biol. Chem. 275, 13336-13342.
- Kievit, P., J.D. Lauten and R.A. Maurer. (2001). Analysis of the role of the mitogen activated protein kinase in mediating cAMP effects on prolactin promoter activity. Mol. Endocrinol. 15:614-624.
- Howard, P.W. and R. A. Maurer. (2001). A point mutation in the LIM domain of Lhx3 reduces activation of the glycoprotein hormone a-subunit promoter. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 19020-19026.