Rob Fowkes
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Dr Rob Fowkes is a Senior Lecturer in Endocrine Signalling within VBS. Rob's Endocrine Signalling Group investigates the mechanisms of membrane-to-nucleus signalling in endocrine tissues.
Biography
Rob completed a BSc (Hons) in Human Biology at Oxford Brookes in 1994. Following this he was awarded a Dorothy Hodgkin Studentship to undertake a PhD in Neuroendocrinology at the University of Bristol from 1994-1997, conducting his PhD on C-type natriuretic peptide in the pituitary in the McArdle Lab. Rob worked at the Royal Free Hospital & the RVC as a post-doc. examining prostaglandin biochemistry in the Michael & Abayasekara Labs. Rob also worked as a post-doc. at Barts & the Royal London in the Burrin Lab studying glycoprotein hormone gene transcription and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) in the pituitary. His final post-doc. position was as a visiting research fellow at UCSF (CA, USA) in Prof. Ingraham’s group, researching the function of SF-1 in hypothalamic gene expression and obesity onset
Research
The Endocrine Signalling Group has four current research projects:
1) Role of CNP in pituitary development & function - Supported by a Wellcome Trust Project Grant. In collaboration with Dr Imelda McGonnell (RVC) and Prof. Craig McArdle (Univ. Bristol).
2) Decoding pulsatile GnRH signalling in pituitary gonadotrophs - Supported by a MRC Project Grant. Principal Investigator: Prof. Craig McArdle (Univ. Bristol)
3) Atypical mechanisms of guanylyl cyclase-B signalling in the pituitary - Supported previously by a BBSRC New Investigator Grant.
4) Regulation of neuroendocrine development in Danio rerio by endocrine disruptors, calmodulin kinases and CNP - Supported partially by a Wellcome Trust Project Grant and Society for Endocrinology Small Project Grant/Summer Studentship. In collaboration with Dr Imelda McGonnell and Dr Claire Russell (RVC).
Teaching
Rob teaches Endocrinology, cell signalling, cell & molecular biology on the BVetMed, G&T, B.Sc. Biovet Sci and Gateway courses. He is a Unit leader on G&T, module leader on B.Sc Yr1 and Yr3 modules, and is 3rd Yr leader on the B.Sc. Biovet Sci degree. Rob is also the BVetMed intercalation coordinator, summer studentship coordinator, and Study Abroad coordinator.
In addition, Rob is the Chair of the Student Support Committee, and acts as a postgraduate tutor.
Selected Publications
1. SP Armstrong, CJ Caunt, RC Fowkes, K Tsaneva-Atanasova, CA McArdle 2010 Pulsatile and sustained gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor signaling: Does the ERK signaling pathway decode GnRH pulse frequency? J. Biol. Chem. In press.
2. SA Bayol, BH Simbi, RC Fowkes, NC Stickland 2010 A maternal “junk food” diet and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in offspring. Endocrinology 151(4):1451-61.
3. DJ Elsey, RC Fowkes, GF Baxter 2010 L-cysteine stimulates hydrogen sulphide synthesis in myocardium, associated with attenuation of ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Cardio. Pharm. Therap. 15(1):53-9.
4. SP Armstrong, CJ Caunt, RC Fowkes, KT Tsaneva-Atanosova, CA McArdle 2009 Pulsatile and sustained gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor signaling: Does the Ca2+/NFAT signaling pathway decode GnRH pulse frequency? J Biol. Chem, 284(51):35746-57.
5. DJ Elsey, RC Fowkes, GF Baxter 2009: Regulation of cardiovascular cell function by hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Cell Biochem. Function, 28(2):95-106.
6. S Hamid, M Totzeck, C Drexhage, I Thompson, RC Fowkes, T Rassaf, GF Baxter 2010 Nitric oxide/cGMP signaling mediates the cardioprotective action of adrenomedullin in reperfused myocardium. Basic Res Cardiol, 105(2):257-66.
7. Thompson IR, Chand AN, Jonas KC, Burrin JM, Steinhelper ME, Wheeler-Jones CPD, McArdle CA, Fowkes RC 2009 Molecular characterization and functional interrogation of a local natriuretic peptide system in rodent pituitaries, αT3-1 and LβT2 gonadotrophs. J. Endocrinol., 203: 215-229.
8. De Pascale C, Graham V, Fowkes RC, Wheeler-Jones CPD, Botham KM 2009 Suppresion of nuclear factor-ΚB activity in macrophages by chylomicron remnants: modulation by the fatty acid composition of the particles. FEBS Journal, 276: 5689-5702.
9. V Sharp, LM Thurston, RC Fowkes, AE Michael 2009 Expression and activities of 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes in the testes and reproductive tracts of sexually immature male pigs. J. Ster. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 115: 98-106
10. V Sharp, LM Thurston, RC Fowkes, AE Michael 2007 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes in the testis and male reproductive tract of the boar (Sus scrofa domestica) indicate local roles of glucocorticoids in male reproductive physiology. Reproduction, 134: 473-482.
11. IM McGonnell, RC Fowkes 2006 Fishing for gene function – endocrine modelling in zebrafish. J. Endocrinol., 189: 425-439.
12. KK Sidhu, RC Fowkes, RH Skelly, JM Burrin 2005 Exogenous expression of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor and human insulin in AtT-20 corticotrophs confers cAMP-mediated gene transcription and insulin secretion. J. Endocrinol. 187: 419-427
13. AM Nanzer, S Khalaf, AM Mozid, RC Fowkes, MV Patel, JM Burrin, AB Grossman, M Korbonits 2004 Ghrelin exerts a proliferative effect on a rat pituitary somatotroph cell line via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Eur. J. Endocrinol. 151, 223-240.
14. ML Bland, RC Fowkes, HA Ingraham 2004 Differential requirement for SF-1 gene dosage in adrenal development and endocrine function. Mol. Endocrinol., 18, 941-952.
15. RC Fowkes, JM Burrin 2003 Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) enhances basal and forskolin-stimulated transcription of the human glycoprotein hormone α-subunit (αGSU) gene in GH3 cells. J. Endocrinol, 179 (2), R1-R5.
16. RC Fowkes, M Desclozeaux, MV Patel, SJB Aylwin, P King, HA Ingraham, JM Burrin 2003 Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) and the gonadotrope-specific element (GSE) enhance basal and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-stimulated expression of the human glycoprotein hormone α-subunit gene (αGSU) in gonadotropes. Mol. Endocrinol., 17 (11), 2177-2188.
17. RC Fowkes, KK Sidhu, JK Sosabowski, P King, JM Burrin 2003 Absence of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP)-stimulated transcription of the human glycoprotein α-subunit (αGSU) gene in LβT2 gonadotrophs reveals disrupted cyclic 3'5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated gene transcription. J. Mol. Endocrinol., 31, 263-278.
18. RC Fowkes, JM Burrin 2003 Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1): a pivotal regulator of gonadotroph gene expression. J. Endocrinol., 177, 345-350.
19. RC Fowkes, P King, JM Burrin 2002 Regulation of human glycoprotein hormone α-subunit (αGSU) transcription in LβT2 gonadotropes by protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Biol. Reprod. 67, 725-734.
20. RC Fowkes, J Burch, JM Burrin 2001 Stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in αT3-1 gonadotrophs. J. Endocrinol. 171, R1-R5.
21. RC Fowkes, C Chandras, EV Chin, S Okolo, DRE Abayasekara, AE Michael 2001 Relationship between the production of progesterone and prostaglandins by luteinising human granulosa cells in vitro. J. Endocrinol. 171, 455-462.
22. RC Fowkes, CA McArdle 2000 C-type natriuretic peptide: an important neuroendocrine regulator? Trends Endocrinol. Metab. 11, 333-338.
23. RC Fowkes, W Forrest-Owen, CA McArdle 2000 C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) effects in anterior pituitary cell lines: evidence for homologous desensitization of CNP-stimulated cGMP accumulation in αT3-1 gonadotroph-derived cells. J. Endocrinol. 166, 195-203.
24. RC Fowkes, W Forrest-Owen, B Williams, CA McArdle 1999 C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) effects on intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in mouse gonadotroph-derived αT3-1 cell line. Regul. Peps. 84, 43-49.
25. CA McArdle, GB Willars, RC Fowkes, SR Nahorski, JS Davidson, W Forrest-Owen 1996 Desensitization of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone action in αT3-1 cells due to uncoupling of inositol (1,4,5)-triphosphate generation and Ca2+ mobilization. J. Biol. Chem. 271, 23711-23717.
26. CA McArdle, W Forrest-Owen, JS Davidson, RC Fowkes, R Bunting, WT Mason, A Poch, M Kratzmeier 1996 Ca2+ entry in gonadotrophs and αT3-1 cells: does store-dependent Ca2+ influx mediate gonadotrophin-releasing hormone action. J. Endocrinol. 149, 155-169.
Outreach Activities
Rob has been an active member of theSociety for Endocrinology, serving on many committees. He was one of the youngest elected members of the Council of Management, and is still involved in the training provision for young endocrine scientists.
As part of a schools outreach programme, Rob makes an annual science pilgrimage to Grange Park Primary School to bring science to the young and enthusiastic!