Rajkovic Research Group

Principal Investigator: Aleksandar Rajkovic, MD, PhD

My interests lie in the basic sciences and translational research in the area of reproductive genetics. Specifically, we are interested in the developmental control of the reproductive tract and associated pathologies.

Specific Areas of Research

The Rajkovic laboratory has utilized mouse transgenic models to discover novel, germ cell-specific transcriptional regulators that play an important role in both female and male gonadal development. The lab discovered some of the first germ cell specific transcriptional regulators of germ cell differentiation: Nobox, Lhx8, Sohlh1, Sohlh2, Tex14, Gasz, and Hormad1. They used these transcriptional regulators as useful markers to study early ovarian development and oogenesis as well as spermatogonial differentiation. The lab discovered novel, germline-specific, genetic pathways that regulate early germline development and continue to define the role of various factors.

The Rajkovic lab members' goal is to fully understand mechanism that govern formation of ovarian primordial follicles in mammals as well as mechanisms that activate growth of primordial follicles into a mature egg. Primordial follicle formation and activation are critical steps in women’s reproductive life span and onset of menopause. They identified meiotic, transcriptional, and secreted factors that are critical in the biology of primordial follicles. They also discovered pathologic mutations in a subset of germ cell specific factors in women who suffer from premature ovarian failure. They continue to apply genomic approaches in the study of human ovarian failure and other reproductive disorders such as leiomyomas and miscarriages, and to study the relevance of associated human variants in transgenic mouse models.

The lab is also utilizing critical markers of spermatogonial differentiation; Sohlh1 and Sohlh2, to better unravel germ cell specific genetic pathways and mechanisms that govern development of spermatogonia. Their aim is to use these markers to better understand the role of the environment and how it interacts with the germline and soma to impact the development and health from the embryo to adulthood.

Lab Members

Megan McGuire

Research Technician
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Yong-hyun Shin, PhD

Visiting Research Associate
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Hitomi Suzuki, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow
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Allison E. Metz, BS

Research Manager I
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Priya Mittal

Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate Student
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Selected Publications

  • Choi Y, Yuan D, & Rajkovic A. Germ cell-specific transcriptional regulator Sohlh2 is essential for early mouse folliculogenesis and oocyte-specific gene expression. Biol Reprod, Aug. 27, 2008.
  • Choi Y, Ballow DJ, Xin Y, & Rajkovic A. Lim homeobox gene, LHX8, is essential for mouse oocyte differentiation and survival. Biol Reprod, May 28, 2008.
  • Zhao H, Chen ZJ, Qin Y, Shi Y, Wang S, Choi Y, Simpson JL, & Rajkovic A. Transcription factor FIGLA is mutated in patients with premature ovarian failure. Am J Hum Genet, 82(6):1342-8, Jun. 2008. Epub May 22, 2008.
  • Qin Y, Choi Y, Zhao H, Simpson JL, Chen Z, & Rajkovic A. Nobox homeobox mutation causes premature ovarian failure, Am J Hum Genet, 81(3):576-81, Sep. 2007.
  • Choi Y, Qin Y, Berger MF, Ballow DJ, Bulyk ML, Rajkovic A. (2007) Microarray analyses of newborn mouse ovaries lacking nobox. Biol Reprod, 77(2):312-9, Aug. 2007. 
  • Choi Y & Rajkovic A. Characterization of NOBOX DNA binding specificity and its regulation of Gdf9 and Pou5f1 promoters. J Biol Chem, 281(47):35747-56, Nov. 24, 2006.
  • Pangas S, Choi Y, Ballow D, Zhao Y, Westphal H, Matzuk M, & Rajkovic A. Oogenesis requires germ cell specific transcriptional regulators Sohlh1 and Lhx8. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA,103(21):8090-5, May 23, 2006.
  • Ballow D, Meistrich M, Matzuk M, & Rajkovic A. Sohlh1 is essential in spermatogonial differentiation. Dev Biol, 294(1):161-7, Jun. 1, 2006.
  • Choi Y & Rajkovic A. (2006) Genetics of early folliculogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci, 63(5):579-90, Mar. 2006.
  • Greenbaum MP, Yan W, Wu MH, Lin YN, Agno J, Rajkovic A, & Matzuk MM. TEX14 is essential for intercellular bridge development and fertility in male mice, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 103(13):4982-7, Mar. 28, 2006.
  • Pangas SA & Rajkovic A. Transcriptional regulation of early oogenesis: In search of Masters. Hum Reprod Update, 12(1):65-76. Jan.-Feb., 2006.
  • Rajkovic A, Pangas SA, Ballow D, Suzumori N, & Matzuk MM. Nobox regulates oocyte-specific gene expression in early folliculogenesis, Science, 305:1157-59, 2004

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