Biography
I grew up in Connecticut and did my undergraduate studies at Providence College. After earning my Ph. D. at Carnegie Mellon University, I was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California at Berkeley. After moving back east, I became a professor at PSU Abington in 1998. My expertise is in the areas of cell, developmental, and molecular biology
Research Interests
I currently have two research projects in my laboratory. The main project studies the role of metalloproteases in embryonic development. We are investigating the expression and function of two different groups of metalloproteases in embryonic development of the sea urchin model system. Using data from the Sea Urchin Genome Project, we have been able to identify several genes in the Matrix Metalloproteinase and Aminopeptidase N families. We are currently examining the temporal and spatial expression patterns of these genes and will soon begin to investigate the function of these proteins in embryonic development.
The second project in my lab is a study performed in collaboration with researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Abington chemistry department. We are investigating the effects of differentially modified organic compounds on the growth of cervical and gastrointestinal stromal cancer cells. This study allows us to determine the toxicity of the different compounds and helps identify potential candidates for cancer treatment.
Publications
Ingersoll, E.P. and Pendharkar, N. (2005) Characterization and expression of two matrix metalloproteinase genes during sea urchin development. Gene Expression Patterns 5, 727-732.
Ingersoll, E.P., McDonald,, K.L. and Wilt, F.H., (2003) Ultrastructural localization of spicule matrix proteins in normal and metalloproteinase inhibitor-treated sea urchin primary mesenchyme cells. J. Exp. Zool.300A, 101-112.
Benson, S., Page, L., Ingersoll, E. Rosenthal, E., Dungca, K., and Signor, D. (1999) Developmental characterization of the gene for laminin a-chain in sea urchin embryos. Mechanisms of Development 81, 37-49.
Ingersoll, E.P. and Wilt, F. H. (1998) Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors disrupt spicule formation by primary mesenchyme cells in the sea urchin embryo. Developmental Biology 196, 95-106.
Ingersoll, E.P. and Ettensohn, C.A. (1994) An N-linked carbohydrate-containing extracellular matrix determinant plays a key role in sea urchin gastrulation. Developmental Biology 163, 351-366.
Education
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of California, Berkeley, 1993-1997
Ph. D. in Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, 1993
B.S. in Biology, Providence College, 1987