Department of Molecular & Cell Biology

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Polina Lishko

Polina Lishko

Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

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Research Interests

Research in our lab is focused on the cell biology of mammalian fertilization. We study the molecular mechanisms that regulate sperm motility, chemotaxis and the acrosome reaction. A better understanding of these processes will lead to the development of novel approaches to control and preserve male fertility, improve the human reproductive health worldwide and advance family planning.

Polina 1

Co-immunostaining of human spermatozoa with anti-Hv1 antibody (green flagella), anti-COX-IV antibody (red mitochondria) and DAPI (blue nuclei)

Lishkop 2

Human spermatozoon (a), human sperm flagellum (b) and mouse spermatozoon (c) attached to the recording pipette

Current Projects

  • Sperm ion channels and their involvement in sperm physiology
  • Non-genomic steroid receptors and the associated signaling pathways
  • Molecular basis of sperm chemotaxis and thermotaxis
  • Sperm RNA and its role in fertilization and development
  • Preservation of male fertility
  • Effects of microgravity on fertilization and development

Selected Publications

Lishko P., Kirichok Y., Ren D., Navarro B., Chung JJ., Clapham D.E. (2011) The control of male fertility by spermatozoan ion channels. Annu. Rev. Physiol. [PMID:22017176]

Kirichok Y. and Lishko P.V. (2011) Rediscovering Sperm Ion Channels with the Patch-Clamp Technique. Mol. Hum. Reprod. Aug; 17(8):478-99

Lishko P.V., Botchkina I.L., and Kirichok Y. (2011) Female Sex Hormone Progesterone Activates Principal Ca2+Channel of Human Sperm. Nature Mar 17; 471(7338): 387-91

Lishko P.V. and Kirichok Y. (2010) The role of Hv1 and CatSper channels in sperm activation. J Physiol. Dec 1; 588(Pt 23): 4667-72

Lishko P.V., Botchkina I.L., Fedorenko A, and Kirichok Y. (2010) Acid extrusion from human spermatozoa is mediated by flagellar voltage-gated ion channel. Cell Feb 5;140 (3):327-337

Martemyanov K., Krispel C., Lishko P., Burns M., Arshavsky V. (2008) Functional comparison of RGS9 splice isoforms in a living cell. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. Dec 30, 105(52): 20988-93

Lishko P.V., Procko E., Jin X., Phelps C.B., Gaudet R. (2007) The ankyrin repeats of TRPV1 bind multiple ligands and modulate channel sensitivity. Neuron Jun 21; 54(6):905-18

Last Updated 2011-11-22