Our laboratory investigates how key transcription factor genes direct the determination and differentiation of individual cell lineages of endocrine organs during vertebrate development. Transcription factors are proteins that act as molecular switches to turn activate and repress target genes.
Endocrine organs are ductless glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Hormones serve as molecular signals to regulate many physiological functions by affecting the activities of target organs. Mammalian endocrine organs include the brain, the pituitary gland, the pancreas, the thyroid, the gut, the adrenal glands, the gonads, the placenta, the kidney, adipose, etc. The anterior pituitary gland presents a valuable model system to pursue these studies. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. In response to signals from the brain , it secretes polypeptide hormones that regulate growth, sexual function, lactation, thyroid activity, adrenal physiology and homeostasis.