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.