Skip redundant pieces
The Center for Reproductive Sciences

Faculty

insert text description of image
insert text description of image
Leslie L. Heckert, PhD
Associate Professor Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Director, DNA Sequencing Core

Research Description

My research program focuses on understanding the transcriptional and cell-signaling processes that are important for gonadal development and sex determination, as well as those needed for postnatal testis function and endocrine regulation. Using approaches that include molecular biology and mouse models, we are exploring the mechanisms that are necessary for expression of several genes needed for proper development and function of the gonads. These include genes encoding the follicle stimulating hormone receptor, a protein expressed only in somatic cells of the gonads and required for endocrine regulation of the testis and ovary, steroidogenic factor 1, an orphan nuclear receptor required for gonad and adrenal formation and steroid hormone production, and doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1, an evolutionarily conserved gene that is essential for testis differentiation. Through these studies, we hope to provide insight into the genetic events necessary for formation and function of the gonads, thus expanding our understanding of the biological requirements for reproduction and better enabling us to address issues important to human reproductive health.

Representative Publications

Hermann BP, Hornbaker K, Manimaran RR, Heckert LL. Distal regulatory elements are required for Fshr expression in vivo. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2006; In press.

Hermann BP, Heckert LL. Silencing of Fshr occurs through a conserved, hypersensitive site in the first intron. Molecular Endocrinology 2005; 19:2112-2131.

Karpova T, Presley J, Manimaran RR, Scherrer SP, Tejada L, Peterson KR, Heckert LL. A Ftz-F1-containing yeast artificial chromosome recapitulates expression of steroidogenic factor 1 in vivo. Molecular Endocrinology 2005; 19:2549-2563.

Lei N, LL Heckert. GATA4 regulates testis expression of the doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor Dmrt1. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2004; 24: 377-388.

Lei N, LL Heckert. Sp1 and Egr1 regulate transcription of the Dmrt1 gene in Sertoli cells Biology or Reproduction 2002; 66: 675-684.

top of page