Institute for Integrative Genome Biology

Mission

Prudence Talbot

Professor of Cell Biology;
Director, Stem Cell Center

Mailing Address:

Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Spieth /2320
University of California
Riverside, CA 92521

Phone: (951) 827-3768
Fax: (951) 827-4286
Email: talbot@ucr.edu

Website

Degree(s):

PhD 1972 University of Houston
MA 1968 Wellesley College

College/Division Affiliation:

College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Center/Inst Affiliation(s):

Stem Cell Center

Areas Of Expertise:

Reproduction; Toxicology; Stem Cell Biology

Awards / Honors:

2003 Recipient of the Honor's Program Mentor of the Year Award
2001 Fellow, AAAS(American Association for the Advancement of Science)
1998-99 Recipient of Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research

Research Summary:

My laboratory studies reproduction and development using mammalian systems and stem cells. We are currently examining the effect of mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke on the oviduct, uterus, and corpus luteum of hamsters. We have developed an in vitro assay that enables us to study ciliary beat frequency, oocyte cumulus complex pick-up rate, oocyte cumulus complex adhesion to the oviduct, and oviductal muscle contraction in a single preparation. We used these assays in conjunction with HPLC and mass spectroscopy to identify over 40 chemicals in cigarette smoke that inhibit pick-up and transport of oocytes by the oviduct and growth of chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAM). Many of the chemicals that we have identified are inhibitory in the oviductal and CAM bioassays at very low doses.

We subsequently found that some of these chemicals induce cell death of human endothelial cells at very low doses, and one chemical, 3-ethylpyridine, activates the caspase dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathway. We have extended these studies to stem cells and are currently learning how cigarette toxicants affect pluripotency, growth, and differentiation of stem cells. These studies may lead to better ways to control reproductive problems experienced by smokers and may help us understand how smoker exerts adverse effects on reproduction.

Related Press Releases:

• UCR October 20, 2010: Harm Reduction Cigarettes Can Be More Harmful Than Conventional Brands, UC Riverside Researchers Report
• UCR July 28, 2010: Electronic Cigarettes Require More Suction Than Conventional Brands
• UCR February 2, 2010: UC Riverside’s New State-of-the-art Technology to Accelerate Stem Cell Research
• UCR December 8, 2008: Harm-reduction Cigarettes Are More Toxic Than Traditional Cigarettes, UCR Study Finds

Selected Publications:

List of publications from PubMed

Lab Personnel:

Lin, Sabrina

Postgraduate Researcher —   

Hua, My

Graduate Student Researcher — 

Behar, Rachel

Graduate Student Researcher —

Willias, Monique

Graduate Student Researcher —

Bahl, Vasundhra

Graduate Student Researcher —

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