Faculty Profile
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Paul Primakoff
Professor of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy Cell Biology and Human Anatomy (School of Medicine) 3314 Tupper Hall Office 754-8128 Lab pdprimakoff@ucdavis.edu |
Degrees:
1973 - PhD - Stanford University - Biochemistry
Grad Group Affiliations and Specialties:
Cell and Developmental Biology
Publications:
Primakoff, P. and Myles D.G. . 2000. The ADAM gene family: surface proteins with adhesion and protease activity . Trends in Genetics . 16:83-87
Miller, B., Georges-Labouesse, E., Primakoff, P. and Myles, D.G. . 2000. Normal fertilization occurs in eggs lacking the integrin alpha6 beta1 and is CD9-dependent . J Cell Biol. 149:1289-1295
Cho, C., Bunch, D., Faure, J.E., Goulding, E.H.,Eddy, E.M., Primakoff, P. and Myles, D.G.. 1998. Fertilization defects in sperm from mice lacking fertilin beta. Science. 281:1857-1859
Research Interests:
One goal of research in my lab is to uncover the mechanisms involved in sperm-egg fusion and the signaling that initiates mammalian development. We are analyzing the mechanism of cell-cell membrane fusion and the signal transduction pathway(s) activated by sperm-egg fusion in mice. We have identified a new gene family (ADAM family) of membrane proteins, several of which are present on the sperm plasma membrane and apparently bind to integrins on eggs. The binding of ADAMs to eggs promotes sperm-egg fusion and may be the signal that initiates embryonic development. To establish the importance of these interactions we are making ADAM gene knockouts or over-expressing dominant negative ADAM constructs and dissecting signaling events in the egg. A second goal of research in the lab is to develop novel contraceptive methods based on new knowledge in the cell biology of fertilization.