Catherine Dulac, Ph.D.

Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator

Our laboratory has identified essential signaling components of the mammalian vomeronasal organ including novel multigene families encoding candidate pheromone receptors. Using molecular and genetic tools we are analyzing the coding of pheromone signals in the mammalian brain and the specificity of the pheromone response leading to gender discrimination and aggression.

References:

• Stowers L, Holy T, Meister M, Dulac C, Koetnges G (2002) Loss of sex discrimination and male-male aggression in mice deficient in TRP2. Science 295:1493-1500.
• Loconto J. Papes F, Chang E, Stowers L, Jones E, Takada T, Kumanovics A, Fischer-Lindahl K, Dulac C. (2003) Functional expression of murine V2R pheromone receptors involves selective association with the M10 and M1 families of MHC class Ib molecules. Cell 112: 607-618.
• Tietjen I, Rihel J, Cao Y, Zachary L, Dulac C (2003) Single-cell transcriptional analysis of neuronal progenitors. Neuron 38:161-175.
• Yoon H, Enquist LW, Dulac C. (2005) Olfactory inputs to hypothalamic neurons controlling reproduction and fertility. Cell 123: 669-682.
• Wagner S, Gresser AL, Torello AT, Dulac C. (2006) A multireceptor genetic approach uncovers an ordered integration of VNO sensory inputs in the the accessory olfactory bulb. Neuron 50: 697-709.