This program area, directed by Dr. Koji Yoshinaga , supports research that addresses the regulation and mechanism of action of hormones and other signaling molecules that affect reproduction, particularly the sex steroids (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone, chorionic gonadotropin, and follicle-stimulating hormone), and cytokines. Special attention is given to the diverse receptors and intracellular signaling pathways that mediate tissue-specific responses to hormones and cytokines and the functional correlates of the structure of signaling molecules. Recent interest focuses on the convergence of steroid and gonadotropin signaling pathways in mediating specific biological responses, and the importance of co-regulator proteins in determining the extent of transcriptional responses to ligands. Immunological aspect and endocrine aspect of cellular function are also found converging lately and this area of research needs much attention.
Dr. Yoshinaga is also research coordinator of the Cooperative Program on Trophoblast-Maternal Tissue Interactions
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