University of South Florida

Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program at the

W. J. Pledger, Ph.D. Associate Center Director, Basic Research Professor, Department of Oncologic Sciences Cortner-Couch Endowed Chair for Cancer Research E-mail: Jack.Pledger@moffitt.org Phone: (813) 745-3887

Training
B.S.: University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 1966 in Biology
M.S.: University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 1968 in Biology
Ph.D.: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1972 in Biochemistry

Research Interests
The main research interests of W.J. Pledger are the regulatory mechanisms controlling cellular proliferation, differentiation, and the mechanisms involved in tumor development. In order to elucidate these mechanisms growth factor regulation of the cell cycle is being investigated. In particular, the regulation of cyclin dependent kinase activities are studied, including the expression of cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (p27kip1 and p21cip1), and cyclin/cyclin dependent kinase complex formation-activation. These regulatory components are being investigated in fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and lymphocytes culture systems. The regulation of differentiation and terminal growth arrest is being investigated in keratinocytes. In addition, growth and tumor models are being investigated in animal models.

Search for publications by:   
This search will be conducted at the US National Library of Medicine (NLM) and PubMed.

Selected Publications

1. Wang, Y.Z., Wharton, W., Garcia, R., Kraker, A., Jove, R., Pledger, W.J. Activation of Stat3 preassembled with platelet-derived growth factor beta receptors requires Src kinase activity. Oncogene, 19: 2075-85, 2000.

2. Zhang, Xiaohong, Wharton, W., Donovan, M., Coppola, D., Croxton, R., Cress, W. D., Pledger, W.J. Density-dependent growth inhibition of fibroblasts ectopically expressing P27KIP1. Mol. Biol. Cell. 6: 2117-2130, 2000.

3. Wharton, W., Savell, J., Cress, W.D., Seto, E., Pledger, W. J. Inhibition of mitogenesis in Babl/c-3T3 cells by trichostatin A: Multiple alterations in the induction and activation of cyclin/cdk complexes. J. Biol. Chem. 275: 33981-22987, 2000.

4. Bagui, T., Jackson, R., Agrawal, D., and Pledger, W.J. Analysis of Cyclin d3-cdk4 Complexes in Fibroblasts Expressing and Lacking p27kip1 and p21cip1. Mol. Cellular Biol. 20: 8748-8757, 2000.

5. Adnane, Julila, Jackson, Rosalind, Nicosia, Santo, Cantor Alan, Pledger, W. J., and Sebti, Said. Loss of p21WAF1/CIP1 accelerates Ras oncogenesis in a transgenic/knockout mammary cancer model. Oncogene 19: 5338-5347, 2000.