Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2008

Mentor: Michael McPhaul
Department: Internal Medicine
Room number: Y5.322
Mail Code: 8857
Phone number: 214 648-3685
E-mail: Michael.mcphaul@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Mechanisms of androgen receptor function

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)
Animal-based and basic

Brief Description of Project:

The studies in my lab are centered on understanding how androgens control specific processes in cells and how these events control or modulate important disease processes in humans.

Active studies include:

1) The characterization of the effect of deficiency of androgen receptor (AR) coactivators on androge-regulated gene expression.

2) The characterization of a group of proteins isolated with the androgen receptor to determine their role in the modulation of AR function. Studies include transfection and knock-down experiments to define the roles of these proteins in the action of the AR.

3) Examining the basis for the virilization of the female spotted hyena

4) The biological role of poly-ADP ribosyl transferases

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students: numerous

Jill Vilaythong (MS2) was selected to give an oral presentation at the Medical Student Research Forum in January 2005.

Lee Chen (MS1) and Michael J. McPhaul Identification and Validation of Androgen Regulated Genes in Murine Tissues, 2007 Endocrine Society abstract.

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