Ralph Guenter Meyer
Ralph Guenter Meyer
Director, New Bolton Myrin Rodent Barrier Facility
Contact information
Rm. 390EC, OVQ - Office
Rm. 304, Rosenthal Bldg. - Lab
3800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Rm. 304, Rosenthal Bldg. - Lab
3800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-746-8121, office
Email:
meyerg@vet.upenn.edu
meyerg@vet.upenn.edu
Publications
Education:
Dipl.Biol. (Cell and Molecular Biology)
University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, 1994.
Ph.D. (Molecular Cell Biology)
University of Kaiserslautern and German Cancer Research Center - Heidelberg - Germany, 1998.
Dipl.Biol. (Cell and Molecular Biology)
University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, 1994.
Ph.D. (Molecular Cell Biology)
University of Kaiserslautern and German Cancer Research Center - Heidelberg - Germany, 1998.
Post-Graduate Training
Post-doctoral Fellow (DFG), Section of Radiation Biology, University Clinics of Tübingen, Germany , 1988-2000.
Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular Pathology, University Clinics of Tübingen, Germany , 2000-2002.
Permanent linkPost-doctoral Fellow (DFG), Section of Radiation Biology, University Clinics of Tübingen, Germany , 1988-2000.
Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular Pathology, University Clinics of Tübingen, Germany , 2000-2002.
Description of Research Expertise
Poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism, PARP, PARGSpermatogenesis
DNA base excision repair (BER)
DNA damage, strand breaks and genomic stability
Cell signaling defects in carcinogenesis
Molecular biology of viral vectors (AAV, AdV, FIV, HIV, MoMuLV)
Gene targeting
Dr. Meyer is an assistant professor in physiology, Department of Animal Biology. He received his Dipl.Biol. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Kaiserslautern (UKL), Germany, in 1994 and his PhD from UKL/German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, in 1998. Dr. Meyer is interested in the environmental, genetic and epigenetic basis of nonobstructive male infertility. Current research in his lab is focused on functions of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) metabolism mediated by specific poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP enzymes) in DNA repair and chromatin remodeling events that take place in germ cell development. Using genetic mouse models of a disrupted PAR pathway, an exciting new mechanism of PAR, PARP and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) dependent spermatid nuclear reorganization that is known to be essential for male gametogenesis was recently discovered in Dr. Meyer’s lab. Long term goals include the development of pharmacological strategies for both, treatment of male infertility to preserve and restore fertility in humans, but also for nonsurgical sterilization of cats and dogs to humanely curb feral pet overpopulation.
Next steps will be to investigate the impact of dietary deficiencies and exogenous genotoxic stress on PAR metabolism in the male germ line with respect to male infertility and epigenetic consequences to progeny sired by affected males.
Selected Publications
Meyer-Ficca Mirella L, Lonchar Julia D, Ihara Motomasa, Meistrich Marvin L, Austin Caroline A, Meyer Ralph G: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases PARP1 and PARP2 modulate topoisomerase II beta (TOP2B) function during chromatin condensation in mouse spermiogenesis. Biology of reproduction 84(5): 900-9, May 2011.Meyer-Ficca Mirella L, Ihara Motomasa, Lonchar Julia D, Meistrich Marvin L, Austin Caroline A, Min Wookee, Wang Zhao-Qi, Meyer Ralph G: Poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism is essential for proper nucleoprotein exchange during mouse spermiogenesis. Biology of reproduction 84(2): 218-28, Feb 2011.
Meyer-Ficca Mirella L, Meyer Ralph G: Genetic approaches to targeting multiple PARP genes in a mammalian genome. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 780: 349-76, 2011.
Bermudez Yira, Benavente Claudia A, Meyer Ralph G, Coyle W Russell, Jacobson Myron K, Jacobson Elaine L: Nicotinic acid receptor abnormalities in human skin cancer: implications for a role in epidermal differentiation. PloS one 6(5): e20487, 2011.
Whatcott Clifford J, Meyer-Ficca Mirella L, Meyer Ralph G, Jacobson Myron K: A specific isoform of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase is targeted to the mitochondrial matrix by a N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence. Experimental cell research 315(20): 3477-85, Dec 2009.
Meyer-Ficca Mirella L, Lonchar Julia, Credidio Christine, Ihara Motomasa, Li Yun, Wang Zhao-Qi, Meyer Ralph G: Disruption of poly(ADP-ribose) homeostasis affects spermiogenesis and sperm chromatin integrity in mice. Biology of reproduction 81(1): 46-55, Jul 2009.
Meyer Ralph G, Meyer-Ficca Mirella L, Whatcott Clifford J, Jacobson Elaine L, Jacobson Myron K: Two small enzyme isoforms mediate mammalian mitochondrial poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) activity. Experimental cell research 313(13): 2920-36, Aug 2007.
Meyer R.G., Meyer-Ficca M.L., Whatcott C.J., Jacobson E.L., Jacobson M.K.: Two small enzyme isoforms mediate mammalian mitochondrial poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) activity. Experimental Cell Research 313(13): 2920-36, Aug 2007.
Gao H., Coyle DL., Meyer-Ficca ML., Meyer RG., Jacobson EL., Wang ZQ., Jacobson MK.: Altered poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism impairs cellular responses to genotoxic stress in a hypomorphic mutant of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase. Experimental Cell Research 313(5): 984-96, Mar 10 2007.
Meyer-Ficca ML., Scherthan H., Burkle A., Meyer RG.: Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation during chromatin remodeling steps in rat spermiogenesis. Chromosoma 114(1): 67-74, May 2005.