Faculty

Colin Conine, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology & Newborn Services)

Department: Pediatrics

Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
BRB II/III 1309, 421 Curie Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Lab: 215-573-1720

Email:
conine@upenn.edu

Publications

Search PubMed for articles

Education:
BS (Biochemistry)
University of Rochester, 2007.
PhD (Molecular Biology and Genetics (Mentor Craig Mello))
University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2014.

Links
Search PubMed for articles
Conine Lab Website

Permanent link

> Perelman School of Medicine > Faculty > Details

Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests:
The functions of small RNAs in fertility, inheritance, and development.

Key words: RNA, sperm, embryogenesis, fertility, epigenetics, microRNAs, epididymis, extracellular vesicles

Research Details:
We are particularly interested in how RNAs present in sperm are capable of transmitting non-genetic information to their progeny, influencing offspring phenotype. This includes, 1) how small RNAs regulate gene expression in the male germline to support spermatogenesis and fertility, 2) how small RNAs are packaged into mature sperm, 3) how RNAs transmitted during fertilization are able to regulate early embryonic gene expression and development, and 4) how this regulation can alter developmental programs to produce a non-genetically inherited phenotype. The lab utilizes a combination of state-of-the-art genomic, molecular biology, and assisted reproduction techniques across multiple model systems including mice, embryonic stem cells, and C. elegans to understand these questions.

Rotation Projects:
The functions of sperm-transmitted small RNAs on embryonic gene expression and development in mice

C. elegans as a model to understand paternal epigenetic inheritance

Soma-to-germline communication of RNAs from the epididymis to sperm in mammals

Conservation of sperm RNAs across species

Novel imprinted genes in early embryonic development in mice

The effect of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) on embryonic development and offspring phenotype

Selected Publications

Galambos NS, Crocker OJ, Schneider BK, Allerton KS, Gross KE, Schneider AE, Lynch J, Yukselen O, Kucukural A, Conine CC.: tRNA-derived RNA processing in sperm transmits non-genetically inherited phenotypes to offspring in C. elegans. Nature Communications 2026 Notes: accepted.

Golden TN, Garifallou JP, Conine CC, Simmons RA.: The effect of intrauterine growth restriction on the developing pancreatic immune system. Endocrinology 2026 Notes: accepted.

Golden TN, Mani S, Linn RL, Leite R, Trigg NA, Wilson A, Anton L, Mainigi M, Conine CC, Kaufman BA, Strauss JF 3rd, Parry S, Simmons RA.: Extracellular Vesicles Alter Trophoblast Function in Pregnancies Complicated by COVID-19. J Extracell Vesicles. 14(4): e70051, April 2025

Schneider AE, Conine CC: Run for your sons: paternal exercise boosts offspring fitness. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism December 2025.

Gillespie L, Martin JH, Anderson AL, Bernstein IR, Stanger SJ, Trigg NA, Schjenken JE, Gannon A, Parameswaran S, Smyth SP, Conine CC, Desai R, Handelsman DJ, De Iuliis GN, Eamens AL, Dun MD, Turner BD, Roman SD, Green MP, Nixon B : Exposure of mice to environmentally relevant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alters the sperm epigenome. Communications Biology October 2025.

Pseudouridine selects RNAs for extracellular transport. Scacchetti A, Shields EJ, Reich LN, Doherty JF, Tasca JA, Lee GE, Lauman R, Chanaday NL, Garcia BA, Conine CC, Bonasio R: Pseudouridine selects RNAs for extracellular transport. BioRxiv. In review (Science) (eds.). October 2025.

Trigg NA, Lee GS, Leach AG, Conine CC.: Epididymal extracellular vesicles harbor and convey mRNA to sperm for transfer to zygotes. BioRxiv Aug 2025 Notes: In revision (Nucleic Acids Research).

Lee GS, Trigg NA, Conine CC.: Protocol to assess the impact of sperm RNA on mouse preimplantation embryos using microinjection. STAR Protoc 6: 103772, Jun 2025.

Trigg NA, Zhou SK, Harris JC, Lamonica MN, Nelson MA, Silverman MA, Kambayashi T, Conine CC.: A lack of commensal microbiota influences the male reproductive tract intergenerationally in mice. Reproduction 169(4): e240204, March 2025.

Trigg N, Schjenken JE, Martin JH, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Smyth SP, Bernstein IR, Anderson AL, Stanger SJ, Simpson ENA, Tomar A, Teperino R, Conine CC, De Iuliis GN, Roman SD, Bromfield EG, Dun MD, Eamens AL, Nixon B.: Subchronic elevation in ambient temperature drives alterations to the sperm epigenome and accelerates early embryonic development in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 121: e2409790121, Nov 2024.