Jeyasuria Pancharatnam
Academic Rank
Assistant Professor, Research Educator (full time)
Courses taught
PSL 7690: Gametogenesis and Primordial Germ Cells; Sex Determination/Spermatogenesis/ Male Endocrinology 1; Sex Determination/ Spermatogenesis/ Male Endocrinology 2; Oogenesis II - Instructor. Department of Physiology with Concentration in the Reproductive ciences Program (PhD), Principles of Reproductive Biology.
Research
My research utilizes molecular and transgenic approaches to target any investigational interests in the field of reproductive endocrinology and physiology. A common thread in my projects is the nuclear receptor function. I have recently focused on the characterization and functional analysis of alternate ERα isoforms, which I propose play a critical role in regulating estrogen (E2) responsiveness in a spatial and gestationally regulated manner in the myometrial compartment of the pregnant uterus. This study has currently expanded to define the splicing mechanisms and factors that ultimately change the functionality of single genes to produce proteins of very different and sometimes contrary functions as they relate to the pregnant uterine myocyte. My focus in these studies is to understand the mechanisms that control the timing of labor and to ultimately explain the phenomenon of preterm birth.
My second research focus has been dedicated to understanding maternal fetal signaling with respect to the phenomena of imprinting, fetal growth and the timing of labor. To this end a transgenic approach was developed in my lab, using a conditional Cre-Lox strategy, where specific genes are functionally ablated in all fetuses while the maternal genome remains somatically normal. This strategy will also be used to target genes involved in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to ultimately study preeclampsia.
I have had a long standing interest in sexual determination/differentiation, gonadal development and spermatogenesis. My previous work in the function of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, AD4BP, NR5A1) in Leydig cells using a tissue specific knockout strategy has led to identifying the developmental and functional significance of SF-1 in Sertoli cells in the testis. Our initial findings are that SF-1 is crucial for Sertoli cell survival and proliferation during development.
Publications
- Xie Y, Natarajan K, Bauer KS, Nakanishi T, Beck WT, Moreci RS, Jeyasuria P, Hussain A, Ross DD. Bcrp1 transcription in mouse testis is controlled by a promoter upstream of a novel first exon (E1U) regulated by steroidogenic factor-1. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Dec;1829(12):1288-99.
- Kyathanahalli C, Marks J, Nye K, Lao B, Albrecht ED, Aberdeen GW, Nathanielsz PW, Jeyasuria P, Condon .Cross-species withdrawal of MCL1 facilitates postpartum uterine involution in both the mouse and baboon. JC.Endocrinology. 2013 Dec;154(12):4873-84
- Suresh A, Subedi K, Kyathanahalli C, Jeyasuria P, Condon JC. Uterine endoplasmic reticulum stress and its unfolded protein response may regulate caspase 3 activation in the pregnant mouse uterus. PLoS One. 2013 Sep 13;8(9):e75152.
- Jeyasuria P, Subedi K, Suresh A, Condon JC. Elevated levels of uterine anti-apoptotic signaling may activate NFKB and potentially confer resistance to caspase 3-mediated apoptotic cell death during pregnancy in mice. Biol Reprod. 2011 Aug;85(2):417-24.
- Jeyasuria P, Wetzel J, Bradley M, Subedi K, Condon JC. Progesterone-regulated caspase 3 action in the mouse may play a role in uterine quiescence during pregnancy through fragmentation of uterine myocyte contractile proteins. Biol Reprod. 2009.