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Quirk, Susan Mary
Associate Professor
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Research
research overview
- Experiments are being conducted to determine the role of the hedgehog signaling pathway in reproductive function with a focus on the ovary. The hedgehog family of secreted proteins regulate development in the embryo and in a wide array of adult tissues. Hedgehog signaling is essential for ovarian function in drosophila, but it has not been studied previously in the mammalian ovary. Mutations in components of the hedgehog pathway have been implicated in a variety of cancers. We are investigating the role of the hedgehog pathway in ovarian follicle development using transgenic mice in which the pathway is inactivated or over-activated. These studies have led us to focus on the process of ovulation and on the development of somatic cells and the vasculature of the ovarian follicle. In addtion, we have studied the role of hedgehog signaling on development of the female and male reproductive tract and in embryo implantation.
keywords
- Reproductive physiology
- molecular biology
submitted impact statement
Publications
individual publications
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academic article
- Role of the cell cycle in regression of the corpus luteum. Reproduction. 145:161-175. 2013
- Role of the cell cycle in regression of the corpus luteum. Reproduction. 145:161-175. 2013
- Dominant activation of the hedgehog signaling pathway alters development of the female reproductive tract. Genesis. 50:28-40. 2012
- Over-activation of hedgehog signaling alters development of the ovarian vasculature. Biology of Reproduction. 86:174. 2012
- Reduced signaling through the hedgehog pathway in the uterine stroma causes deferred implantation and embryonic loss. Reproduction. 141:665-674. 2011
- WNT4 is required for normal ovarian follicle development and female fertility. FASEB Journal. 24:3010-3025. 2010
- Dominant activation of the hedgehog signaling pathway in the ovary alters theca development and prevents ovulation. Molecular Endocrinology. 23:711-723. 2009
- Insulin regulates hepatic leptin receptor expression in early lactating dairy cows. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 295. 2008
- The hedgehog signaling pathway in the mouse ovary. Biology of Reproduction. 77:226-236. 2007
- The susceptibility of granulosa cells to apoptosis is influenced by oestradiol and the cell cycle. Journal of Endocrinology. 189:441-443. 2006
- Apoptosis of bovine ovarian surface epithelial cells by Fas antigen/Fas ligand signaling. Reproduction. 130:751-758. 2005
- Cell cycle progression and activation of Akt kinase are required for insulin-like growth factor I-mediated suppression of apoptosis in granulosa cells. Molecular Endocrinology. 18:326-338. 2004
- Ovarian follicular growth and atresia: the relationship between cell proliferation and survival. Journal of Animal Science. 82 (E. Suppl.). 2004
- Progesterone receptor and the cell cycle modulate apoptosis in granulosa cells. Endocrinology. 145:5033-5043. 2004
- Apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells after serum withdrawal is mediated by Fas antigen (CD95) and Fas ligand. Biology of Reproduction. 64:518-526. 2001
- Relationship of Fas ligand expression and atresia during bovine follicle development. Reproduction. 121:561-566. 2001
- Susceptibility of bovine granulosa cells to apoptosis differs in cells isolated before or after the LH surge. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 176:13-20. 2001
- Expression and activity of the Fas antigen in bovine ovarian follicle cells. Biology of Reproduction. 62:54-61. 2000
- Expression and function of Fas antigen vary in bovine granulosa and theca cells during ovarian follicular development and atresia. Biology of Reproduction. 62:62-66. 2000
- Regulation of Fas antigen (Fas, CD95)-mediated apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells by serum and growth factors. Biology of Reproduction. 63:1278-1284. 2000
- Responsiveness of mouse corpora luteal cells to Fas antigen (CD95)-mediated apoptosis. Biology of Reproduction. 63:49-56. 2000
- Potentiation of Fas-mediated apoptosis of murine granulosa cells by interferon-, tumor necrosis factor- and cycloheximide. Endocrinology. 139:4860-4869. 1998
- Expression of rat thrombin receptor and mutants in the baculovirus-infected insect cell system. Thrombosis Research. 87:205-214. 1997
- Fas antigen-mediated apoptosis of ovarian surface epithelial cells. Endocrinology. 138:4558-4566. 1997
- Rat uterine stromal cells: Thrombin receptor and growth stimulation by thrombin. Endocrinology. 137:3744-3749. 1996
- Fas antigen-mediated apoptosis in human granulosa/luteal cells. Biology of Reproduction. 52:279-287. 1995
- The regulation of uterine tissue factor by estrogen. Endocrine. 3:177-184. 1995
- The td intron endonuclease I-TevI makes extensive sequence-tolerant contacts across the minor groove of its DNA target. EMBO Journal. 12:2141-2149. 1993
- I-TevI, the endonuclease encoded by the mobile td intron, recognizes binding and cleavage domains on its DNA target. Proceedings at the National Academy of Science USA. 88:7719-7723. 1991
- Intron mobility in phage T4 is dependent upon a distinctive class of endonucleases and independent of DNA sequences encoding the intron core: Mechanistic and evolutionary implications. Nucleic Acids Research. 18:3763-3770. 1990
- A site-specific endonuclease and co-conversion of flanking exons associated with the mobile td intron of phage T4. Gene. 82:119-126. 1989
- Intron mobility in the T-even phages: High frequency inheritance of group I introns promoted by intron open reading frames. Cell. 56:455-465. 1989
- The inconsistent distribution of introns in the T-even phages indicates recent genetic exchanges. Nucleic Acids Research. 17:301-315. 1989
- Regulation of steroidogenesis in bovine preovulatory follicles. Journal of Animal Science. 66:1-8. 1988
- Regulation of the phosphoinositide pathway in cultured Sertoli cells from immature rats: Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone and fluoride. Endocrinology. 123:230-237. 1988
- The growth and differentiation of ovarian follicles during the bovine estrous cycle. Theriogenology. 29:95-109. 1988
- Changes in plasma concentrations of gonadotrophins, preovulatory follicular development and luteal function associated with bovine follicular fluid-induced delay of oestrus in heifers. Reproduction. 76:609-621. 1986
- Growth and regression of ovarian follicles during the follicular phase in heifers undergoing spontaneous and PGF-2-alpha-induced luteolysis. Reproduction. 77:211-219. 1986
- Progesterone secretion by granulosa cells from rats with 4 or 5 day estrous cycles: The development of responses to FSH, LH and testosterone. Endocrinology. 118:2402-2410. 1986
- Uterine steroid receptor changes associated with progesterone withdrawal during pregnancy and pseudo-pregnancy in rabbits. Endocrinology. 114:182-191. 1984
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chapter
- Apoptosis: Technical overview. Ovarian Cancer: Methods & Protocols. 651-658. 2000
- Mobile introns in the T-even phages. Bacteriophage T4. 83-88. 1994
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document part
- Identification of vascular changes required for ovulation using multiphoton microscopy. 1. 2012
- Dominant activation of hedgehog signaling alters vascular development in the theca 2011
- Dominant activation of hedgehog signaling alters development of the female reproductive tract 2010
- The role of the hedgehog signaling pathway in early follicle development 2010
- Dominant active hedgehog signaling in the ovary affects early follicle development. 162. 2009
- Reduced hedgehog signaling in the uterine stroma causes deferred implantation and embryonic loss. 58. 2008
- A role for the cell cycle in luteal regression 2007
- Dominant activation of the hedgehog signaling pathway prevents the final stages of maturation of preovulatory follicles 2007
- Effect of continuous leptin infusion on whole body energetics, metabolism and hormone secretion in the energy deficient, early lactating cow 2007
- Role of the cell cycle in luteal regression 2007
- Hedgehog signaling pathway in ovarian follicle development 2006
- Role of the cell cycle in luteal regression 2006
- Activation of the hedgehog pathway increases growth of follicles and proliferation of granulosa cells in vitro 2005
- The hedgehog pathway is expressed in the mouse ovary and may play a role in follicular development 2005
- Ovarian follicular growth and atresia: the relationship between cell proliferation and survival 2003
- Cell cycle progression and activation of Akt kinase are required for IGF-1-mediated suppression of apoptosis in granulosa cells 2002
- Progesterone receptor (PR) and the cell cycle modulate apoptosis in granulosa cells 2002
- Effect of cell cycling on apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells induced by Fas ligand 2001
- Estradiol inhibits apoptosis of granulosa cells induced by Fas ligand. 291. 2001
- Insulin-like growth factor-I prevents Fas ligand-induced apoptosis of granulosa cells via the phophatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT kinase pathway. 132. 2001
- Fas ligand expression in cells from healthy and atretic bovine follicles 2000
- Killing of bovine ovarian surface epithelial cells by anisomycin and daunorubicin is mediated by Fas antigen 2000
- Role of the Fas antigen (CD95) pathway in serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells. 221. 2000
- Fas-mediated apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells (GC) in defined media is prevented by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF). 223. 1999
- Susceptibility of bovine granulosa cells to Fas antigen-mediated apoptosis differs in cells isolated before or after the LH surge. 148. 1999
- Fas antigen-mediated killing of cells from healthy and atretic bovine follicles. 110. 1998
- Responsiveness of murine ovarian cell types to Fas-mediated apoptosis. 73. 1998
- Potentiation of Fas-mediated killing of murine granulosa cells by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and cycloheximide. 224. 1997
- Fas antigen-mediated cell death in cultured murine corpora lutea. 87. 1996
- Fas antigen-mediated apoptosis in human granulosa/luteal cells. 183. 1994
- Demonstration of the thrombin receptor in immature rat uterus 1993
- Mechanism for the regulation of uterine tissue factor by estrogen. 161. 1993
- Sequence tolerant interaction of intron endonuclease I-TevI with the T4 td homing site 1992
- Interaction of the T4 td intron-encoded endonuclease, I-TevI, with its DNA target 1991
- Intron mobility in phage T4: cis and trans requirements of intron homing. 19. 1991
- Recognition elements of the td intron encoded endonuclease 1991
- Endonuclease-promoted intron mobility in phage T4 preserves essential intron-exon RNA contacts required for splicing 1989
- Inconsistent distribution of introns in the T-even phages indicates recent genetic exchanges 1988
- Effects of LH and FSH on steroid secretion by bovine follicle cells isolated before and after luteolysis. 172. 1987
- Inhibition of 125I-hFSH binding to receptor by synthetic peptide fragments of human FSH-beta subunit. 125. 1987
- Effects of bovine follicular fluid treatment during the follicular phase in cattle. 134. 1985
- Progesterone secretion by rat granulosa cells: The development of responses to FSH, LH and testosterone. 89. 1983
- Uterine steroid receptor changes in late pregnancy associated with progesterone withdrawal in rabbits 1981
Teaching
teaching overview
- The goal of my major teaching effort is to train undergraduate students in advanced topics in reproductive physiology of male and female mammals while focusing on how research questions are formulated and addressed. The combination of lectures, laboratories and discussion sections are designed to encourage students to begin to formulate questions and learn independently. A goal is to strengthen the students’ ability to think about research questions, write reports and discuss findings with peers.
teaching activities
- ANSC-4020: Seminar in Animal Sciences - Spring 2013
- ANSC-7900: Graduate-Level Thesis Research - Spring 2013
- ANSC-8900: Master's Level Thesis Research - Spring 2013
- ANSC-9900: Doctoral-Level Thesis Research - Spring 2013
- ANSC-4050: Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Reproductive Physiology - Fall 2012
- ANSC-7900: Graduate-Level Thesis Research - Fall 2012
- ANSC-8900: Master's Level Thesis Research - Fall 2012
- ANSC-9900: Doctoral-Level Thesis Research - Fall 2012
- BIOAP-4050: Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Reproductive Physiology - Fall 2012
- ANSC-4020: Seminar in Animal Sciences - Spring 2012
- ANSC-7900: Graduate-Level Thesis Research - Spring 2012
- ANSC-8900: Master's Level Thesis Research - Spring 2012
- ANSC-9900: Doctoral-Level Thesis Research - Spring 2012
- ANSC-4050: Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Reproductive Physiology - Fall 2011
- ANSC-7900: Graduate-Level Thesis Research - Fall 2011
- ANSC-8900: Master's-Level Thesis Research - Fall 2011
- ANSC-9900: Doctoral-Level Thesis Research - Fall 2011
- BIOAP-4050: Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Reproductive Physiology - Fall 2011
Service
service to the profession
- Society for the Study of Reproduction Committee Member 2011 -
- Society for the Study of Reproduction Officer, Secretary 2007 - 2010
- Society for the Study of Reproduction, Future Meeting Sites Committee Committee Member 2006 - 2008
- Society for the Study of Reproduction SSR Newsletter editor 2000 - 2007
- Society for the Study of Reproduction, Education Committee Committee Member 1999 - 2005
- Slide Session at the Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, Apoptosis in Reproductive Biology Chairperson - 2000
reviewer or editor for
- Cellular, Molecular and Integrative Reproduction. National Institute of Health
- Cornell Center for Vertebrate Genomics Seed Grants
- NIH
- NSF
- President's Council of Cornell Women Grants Program
- President's Council of Cornell Women Grants Program
- Specialized Programs of Research Excellence in Ovarian Cancer (SPORE)
- USDA/CSREES/NRI Grants Program
Background
education and training
- Ph.D. in, Cornell University 1986
- M.S. in, Cornell University 1982
- B.S. in, Cornell University 1977
awards and honors
Other
research keyword
- Reproductive physiology
- molecular biology