Faculty & Staff   

Building:McIntyre
Room: 1315
Phone: 514-398-2525
Fax:514-398-6705

E-mail: daniel.bernard@mcgill.ca

Research Area:

Molecular endocrinology, reproductive physiology, intracellular signaling, transcriptional regulation

Research Description:

Dr. Bernard earned his Ph.D. at The Johns Hopkins University and then engaged in post-doctoral research at Northwestern University in the Department of Neurobiology and Physiology and the Center for Reproductive Science. From there he moved to the Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research at The Rockefeller University as Staff Scientist before joining the faculty at McGill in April 2006.

The Bernard lab investigates signal transduction mechanisms through which members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF β) superfamily regulate synthesis of pituitary hormones, in particular follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is a key regulator of ovarian follicle maturation in women as well as spermatogenesis in men. Research in this area may identify causes and treatments for some forms of infertility and will highlight novel contraceptive targets.

Selected Publications:

Ho CC, Zhou X, Mishina Y, Bernard DJ 2011 Mechanisms of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) stimulated inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (Id3) transcription. Mol Cell Endocrinol 332:242-52

Wang Y, Libasci V, Bernard DJ 2010 Activin A induction of FSHbeta subunit transcription requires SMAD4 in immortalized gonadotropes. J Mol Endocrinol 44:349-62

Robitaille M, Gora S, Wang Y, Goupil E, Petrin D, Del Duca D, Villeneuve LR, Allen BG, Laporte SA, Bernard DJ, Hebert TE 2010 Gbetagamma is a negative regulator of AP-1 mediated transcription. Cell Signal 22:1254-66

Lamba P, Wang Y, Tran S, Ouspenskaia T, Libasci V, Hebert TE, Miller GJ, Bernard DJ 2010 Activin A regulates porcine follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit transcription via cooperative actions of SMADs and FOXL2. Endocrinology 151:5456-67

Ho CC, Bernard DJ 2010 Bone morphogenetic protein 2 acts via inhibitor of DNA binding proteins to synergistically regulate follicle-stimulating hormone beta transcription with activin A. Endocrinology 151:3445-53

Fortin J, Bernard DJ 2010 SMAD3 and EGR1 physically and functionally interact in promoter-specific fashion. Cell Signal 22:936-43

Bernard DJ, Fortin J, Wang Y, Lamba P 2010 Mechanisms of FSH synthesis: what we know, what we don't, and why you should care. Fertil Steril 93:2465-85

Stevenson TJ, Lynch KS, Lamba P, Ball GF, Bernard DJ 2009 Cloning of gonadotropin-releasing hormone I complementary DNAs in songbirds facilitates dissection of mechanisms mediating seasonal changes in reproduction. Endocrinology 150:1826-33

Stevenson TJ, Bernard DJ, Ball GF 2009 Photoperiodic condition is associated with region-specific expression of GNRH1 mRNA in the preoptic area of the male starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Biol Reprod 81:674-80

Lamba P, Fortin J, Tran S, Wang Y, Bernard DJ 2009 A novel role for the forkhead transcription factor FOXL2 in activin A-regulated follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit transcription. Mol Endocrinol 23:1001-13

Hong D, Li XW, Lian QQ, Lamba P, Bernard DJ, Hardy DO, Chen HX, Ge RS 2009 Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) regulates glucocorticoid metabolism through 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 in murine gonadotrope cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 389:305-9

Ho CC, Bernard DJ 2009 Bone morphogenetic protein 2 signals via BMPR1A to regulate murine follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit transcription. Biol Reprod 81:133-41

Fortin J, Lamba P, Wang Y, Bernard DJ 2009 Conservation of mechanisms mediating gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 1 stimulation of human luteinizing hormone beta subunit transcription. Mol Hum Reprod 15:77-87

Cash JN, Rejon CA, McPherron AC, Bernard DJ, Thompson TB 2009 The structure of myostatin:follistatin 288: insights into receptor utilization and heparin binding. Embo J 28:2662-76

Bak B, Carpio L, Kipp JL, Lamba P, Wang Y, Ge RS, Hardy MP, Mayo KE, Bernard DJ 2009 Activins regulate 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I transcription in murine gonadotrope cells. J Endocrinol 201:89-104

Wang Y, Fortin J, Lamba P, Bonomi M, Persani L, Roberson MS, Bernard DJ 2008 Activator protein-1 and smad proteins synergistically regulate human follicle-stimulating hormone beta-promoter activity. Endocrinology 149:5577-91

Robakis T, Bak B, Lin SH, Bernard DJ, Scheiffele P 2008 An internal signal sequence directs intramembrane proteolysis of a cellular immunoglobulin domain protein. J Biol Chem 283:36369-76

Lamba P, Khivansara V, D'Alessio AC, Santos MM, Bernard DJ 2008 Paired-like homeodomain transcription factors 1 and 2 regulate follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit transcription through a conserved cis-element. Endocrinology 149:3095-108

Lamba P, Hjalt TA, Bernard DJ 2008 Novel forms of Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2): generation by alternative translation initiation and mRNA splicing. BMC Mol Biol 9:31

Lee KB, Khivansara V, Santos MM, Lamba P, Yuen T, Sealfon SC, Bernard DJ 2007 Bone morphogenetic protein 2 and activin A synergistically stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit transcription. J Mol Endocrinol 38:315-30

Ge RS, Chen GR, Dong Q, Akingbemi B, Sottas CM, Santos M, Sealfon SC, Bernard DJ, Hardy MP 2007 Biphasic effects of postnatal exposure to diethylhexylphthalate on the timing of puberty in male rats. J Androl 28:513-20

Lamba P, Santos MM, Philips DP, Bernard DJ 2006 Acute regulation of murine follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit transcription by activin A. J Mol Endocrinol 36:201-20

Bernard DJ, Lee KB, Santos MM 2006 Activin B can signal through both ALK4 and ALK7 in gonadotrope cells. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 4:52