Assistant Professor of Reproductive Medicine
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology

PhD in Biological Sciences,
University of California, Irvine, 1991

  Teaching  |  Service  |  General Area of Interest
Recent Publications | Laboratory Personnel  |  Administrative Assistant

Teaching: Hormone Action, Reproductive Physiology 

Service:

• Minority Affairs Committee, Endocrine Society
• Training Grant Faculty, Training in Reproductive Sciences (NIH T32 HD07203, P.I. Pamela Mellon, Ph.D., Co-PI, Jeffery Chang, M.D.).
• Training Grant Faculty, Training Program in Basic andClinical Genetics. (NIH T32 GM0866, P.I. Lawrence Goldstein, Ph.D.)
• Medical Scientist Training Program Admissions Committee, 2002-2004
• University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
• UCSD Consortium of High Schools, Universities, and the Medical School (CHUM), Mentor, Summer 2001
• Biomedical Sciences Admissions Committee 2003-2004

General Area of Interest: Hormone Action

    We are investigating the molecular mechanisms of hormone action in the pituitary, with a special emphasis on factors controlling reproductive function.  Current studies are focused on understanding the role of hormone action in regulating translation initiation and mRNA utilization.  We are also interested in the mechanism of endocrine diseases affecting reproduction such as polycystic ovary syndrome and type II diabetes.  Our long-term interest is in understanding the integration of multiple hormone signaling pathways in the regulation of endocrine cell function.

Recent Publications:

Vasilyev, V. V., M .A. Lawson, D. DiPaolo. N. J. G. Webster, and P. L. Mellon.  (2002).  Different signaling pathways control acute induction versus long-term repression of LHb transcription by GnRH.  Endocrinology.  143:  3414-3426

Liu, S. K. M Ogilvie, K. Klausing. M .A. Lawson, D. Jolley. D. Li, J. Bilakovics, B. Pasqual, N. Hein, M. Urcan, M. D. Liebowitz  (2002).  Mechanism of selective retinoid x receptor agonist-induced hypothyroidism in the rat.  Endocrinology 143:  2880-2885

Lawson, M. A., L. A. MacConell, J. Kim, B. T. Powl, and P. L. Mellon.  (2002).  Neuron-specific expression in vivo by defined transcription regulatory elements of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone gene.  Endocrinology 143:  1404-1412.

Lawson, M. A., D.  Li, C. A. Glidewell-Kenney, and F J López.  (2001).  Androgen responsiveness of the pituitary gonadotrope cell line LbT2.  Journal of Endocrinology 170:  601-607.

Lawson, M. A. and P. L. Mellon.  (2001).  GnRH gene expression:  lessons learned from immortalized cells. In:  Neuroplasticity, development, and steroid hormone action. R.J. Handa (ed.).  CRC Press, Boca Raton, LA.  141-151.

Sosnowski, R., P. L. Mellon, and M. A. Lawson.  (2000).  Activation of translation in pituitary gonadotrope cells by gonadotropin-releasing hormone.  Molecular Endocrinology 14:  1811-19.

López, F.J., P. D. Finn, M. A . Lawson, and A. Negro-Vilar.  (2000).  Regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis:  role of gonadal steroids and implications for the menopause In:  Menopause.  R. Lobo, J. Kelsey, and R. Marcus. (eds.). Academic Press, San Diego.  33-60.

Nelson, S.B., M. A. Lawson, C. G. Kelley, and P. L. Mellon.  (2000).  Neuron-specific expression of the rat GnRH gene is conferred by interactions of a defined promoter element with the enhancer. Molecular Endocrinology 14:  1509-22.

MacConell, L. A., M. A. Lawson, P. L. Mellon and V.J. Roberts.  (1999).  Activin A regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone synthesis and release in vitro.  Neuroendocrinology.  70:  246-254.

Lawson, M. A. and P. L. Mellon.  (1998).  Expression of GATA-4 in migrating gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons of the developing mouse.  Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 140:157-161

Lawson, M. A., A. R. Buhain, J. C. Jovenal, P. L. Mellon.  (1998).  Multiple factors interacting at the GATA sites of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron-specific enhancer regulate gene expression.  Molecular Endocrinology 12: 364-377.

Patel K, Coffler MS, Dahan MH, Yoo RY, Lawson MA, Malcom PJ, Chang RJ. (2003). Increased luteinizing hormone secretion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome is unaltered by prolonged insulin infusion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88:5456-61.

Laboratory Personnel:

Administrative Assistant: 
Cindy Lai
e-mail: cdlai@ucsd.edu
phone: (858) 534-1140