Peter Donovan, Ph.D.
Codirector of Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center & Professor

2054 Hewitt Hall
University of California, Irvine
Zot code: 3940
Irvine, CA 92697

Tel: (949) 824-3691
Fax: (949) 824-6388
Email: pdonovan@uci.edu

Molecular Genetics of Germ Cell and Stem Cell Development - Our laboratory is interested in four critical aspects germ cell and stem cell biology. One aspect is the regulation of developmental potency within the mammalian germline and within pluripotent stem cells derived from germ cells (embryonic germ cells, or EG cells) and from early embryos (embryonic stem cells, or ES cells). Learning how to control stem cell potency may point to new methods of maintaining EG or ES cells in an undifferentiated state for a prolonged period of time, or avoid the tumorigenic potential of these cells when transplanted into animals. A second major area of research is aimed at understanding the factors that control the survival of hES cells. Using factors that support clonal survival of hES cells we have improved methods for genetically modifying hES cells. We are using such techniques to carry out high throughput screens to identify pathways that regulate stem cell survival and proliferation of hES cells. These pathways may be critical to understanding how to grow hES cells in very large scale as well as understanding why hES cells can become aneuploid in culture. Finally, we are using models to determine key safety issues associated with stem cell transplantation. These studies are aimed at understanding how genomic imprinting, karyotype and developmental potency may be affected by cell culture and how transplanted ES cells and EG cells behave upon transplantation. In a separate area of research we seek to understand another key aspect of germline differentiation, namely meiosis. Our research has focused on identifying key molecules that regulate meiosis in mammals. We have identified the dual specificity phosphatase, Cdc25B, as a key regulator of meiotic maturation in female mammals. Our ongoing research is aimed at understanding how Cdc25B activity is regulated and at identifying proteins that interact with Cdc25B to control its function.

Recent Publications