Jerome F. Strauss III

faculty photo
Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Contact information
Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health
Room 1354 BRB II
421 Curie Blvd.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215 898-0147
Fax: 215 573-5408
Education:
B.A.
Brown University, 1969.
M.D.
University of Pennsylvania, 1974.
Ph.D. (Molecular Biology)
University of Pennsylvania, 1975.
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Description of Research Expertise

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH

Dr. Strauss's laboratory has four primary interests:

1. the regulation of steroid hormone synthesis in ovary and placenta;
2. polycystic ovary syndrome;
3. the biology of fetal membranes;
4. the molecular basis of sperm motility.

Studies on the control of steroid hormone synthesis are currently focused on the role of proteins that govern the uptake of lipoprotein-carried cholesterol from the circulation and proteins involved in the distribution cholesterol to and within various intracellular organelles. On-going work explores the role and
function of the very low density lipoprotein receptor in placental cholesterol metabolism. Work on intracellular sterol transport addresses sterol efflux from lysosomes and endosomes, sterol transport through the cytoplasm and intra-mitochondrial sterol translocation. Diseases caused by defects in the intracellular trafficking of cholesterol, including Niemann-Pick type C disease and congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia, serve as models to explore the roles of specific proteins.

The genetic basis of polycystic ovary syndrome and the regulation of thecal androgen synthesis are being investigated as part of the National Cooperative Program in Infertility Research.

Studies on fetal membranes focus on the activation of collagenolytic enzymes and programmed cell death in the amniotic epithelium at term. The rat amnion and human fetal membranes are under investigation. Genetic factors contributing to premature rupture of the fetal membranes are being sought.
Studies are on-going on the characterization of proteins involved in sperm axonemal function using targeted mutagenesis of genes that are orthologs of Chlamydomonas genes known to be associated with flagellar paralysis.

Selected Publications

Wood, J.R., Strauss III, J.F.: Multiple signal transduction pathways regulate ovarian steroidogenesis. Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders 3: 33-46, 2002.

Arechavaleta-Velasco, F., Koi, H., Strauss III, J.F., Parry, S.: Viral infection of the trophoblast: time to take a serious look at its role in abnormal implantation and placentation? Journal of Reproductive Immunology 55: 113-121, 2002.

Parry, S., Strauss III, J.F.: Placental protein hormones. Gynecology & Obstetrics. J.J. Sciarra (eds.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, in press 2002.

Christenson, L.K., Strauss III, J.F.: Cholesterol metabolism in steroidogenic tissues. Genetics of Steroid Biosynthesis and Function. I. Mason (eds.). Taylor & Francis, London and New York, 5: 115-144, 2002.

Strauss III, J.F.: Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein Wiley Encyclopedia of Molecular Medicine. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 5: 3014-3017, 2002.

Fauser, B.C.J.M., Bouchard, P., Hsueh, A.J.W., Rutherford, A.J., Simpson, J.L., Strauss III, J.F.: Reproductive Medicine: Molecular, Cellular and Genetic Fundamentals. Parthenon Press, In press, 2002.

Fujimoto, T., Savani, R., Watari, M., Day, A.J., Strauss III, J.F.: Induction of the hyaluronic acid-binding protein TSG-6 in cervical smooth muscle cells by tumor necrosis factor a and prostaglandin E2. American Journal of Pathology 160: 1495-1502, 2002.

Fujimoto, T., Parry, S., Urbanek, M., Sammel, M., Macones, G., Kuivaniemi, H., Romero, R., Strauss III, J.F.: A single nucleotide polymorphism in the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) promoter influences amnion cell MMP-1 expression and risk for preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes. Journal of Biological Chemistry 277: 6296-6302, 2002 Notes:

Ferrand, P.E., Parry, S., Sammel, M., Macones, G.A., Kuivaniemi, H., Romero, R., Strauss III, J.F.: A polymorphism in the matrix matalloproteinase-9 promoter is associated with increased risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes in African Americans. Molecular Human Reproduction 8: 494-501, 2002.

Yamamoto, N., Christenson, L.K., McAllister, J.M., Strauss III, J.F.: Growth differential factor-9 inhibits 3’5’-Adenosine monophosphate-stimulated steroidogenesis in human granulose and theca cells. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 87: 2849-2856, 2002.

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Last updated: 08/30/2004
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