Kan | Biomedical and Molecular Sciences | School of Medicine

Frederick W.K. Kan PhD

Position(s)

Professor

Contact Info

613-533-2863

Faculty Bio

The fallopian tube or oviduct occupies a unique position within the female reproductive tract where it provides the optimal environment for many critical reproductive events to take place. These include gamete transport and maturation, sperm-egg interaction, fertilization, and early embryo development. Our current research focuses on how the post-ovulatory environment in the oviduct influences gamete maturation, fertilization, and pre-implantation development. We have recently produced a human recombinant oviduct-specific glycoprotein, oviductin, and we are studying its role during the early events of fertilization. Further, we are interested in the effect of diabetes on endometrial functions at reproductive age and the use of low-dose immunosuppresant therapy in ameliorating and restoring normal reproductive functions in diabetes.

Research Interests:

Our current research interest is the regulatory role of glycoproteins secreted by the oviduct in sperm-egg interaction and reproductive functions. Our research focuses on the study of how the postovulatory environment in the oviduct influences gamete maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation development. We are also interested in the structure-function relationship between oviductal secretions and other ovary-specific glycoproteins that make up the zona pellucida of postovulatory oocytes. We have recently produced a human recombinant oviduct-specific glycoprotein (oviductin). We are particularly interested in studying the role of human oviductin in stimulating the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins during capacitation and in the enhancement of sperm-egg binding with the hope of defining sperm quality and fertilizing competence for proper and ethical use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in alleviating male infertility. Another project being undertaken in our laboratory involves the use of low-dose immunosuppressant therapy and the study of its underlying mechanisms in ameliorating and restoring normal reproductive functions in subjects with diabetes.

Sources of Research Funds: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Kingston General Hospital Medical Research Fund

Selected Publications:

(*) indicates graduate student and/or research trainee in my laboratory

*Albaghdadi, A.J.H., *C.A. Feeley, F.W.K. Kan (2019) Low-dose tacrolimus prevents dysregulated peri-conceptional ovarian and systemic immune cellular homeostasis in subjects with PCOS. Scientific Reports. 2019 April 25; 9(1):6528. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-42960-x.

*Albaghdadi, A.J.H. and F.W.K. Kan. (2018) Immunosuppression with tacrolimus improved implantation and rescued expression of uterine progesterone receptor and its co-regulators FKBP52 and PIASy at nidation in the obese and diabetic mice: Comparative studies with metformin. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 2018 Jan. 15; 460:73-84. doi:1016/j.mce.2017.07.007. Epub 2017 Jul 8. PMID:28689771.

*Albaghdadi, A.J.H., *M.A. Hewitt, S.M. Putos, M. Wells, T.R.S. Ozolins, F.W.K. Kan. (2017) Tacrolimus in the prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes and diabetes-associated embryopathies in obese and diabetic mice. Journal of Translational Medicine. Feb. 13; 15(1):32. dot:10.1186/s12967-017-1137-4.

Bidarimath M., K. Khalaj K., R.T. Kridli, F.W.K. Kan, M. Koti, C. Tayade. (2017) Extracellular vesicle mediated intercellular communication at the porcine maternal-fetal interface: A new paradigm for conceptus-endometrial cross-talk. Scientific Reports Jan 12; 7:40476. doi:10.1038/srep40476.

*Shorter, S.L., *A.J. Albaghdadi, F.W.K. Kan. (2016) Alterations in oviductal cilia morphology and reduced expression of axonemal dynein in diabetic NOD mice. Tissue and Cell. 48(6): 588-596. doi:10.1016/j.tice.2016.10.003.

*Zhao, Y., *X. Yang, Z. Jia, R. L. Reid, P. Leclerc, F.W.K. Kan. (2016) Recombinant human oviductin regulates tyrosine phosphorylation and acrosome reaction. Reproduction. 152(5): 561-573.

*Yang, X., *Y. Zhao, X. Yang, F.W.K. Kan. (2015) Recombinant hamster oviductin is biologically active and exterts positive effects on sperm functions and sperm-oocyte binding. PLos One. April 7; 10(4):e0123003. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123003. eCollection 2015.

Kan, F.W.K. (2014) Freeze-fracture immunocytochemistry: fracture-label and label-frafture for the localization of membrane proteins. Current Protocol in Cell Biology. Dec 1; 65:4.28.1-2.28.15. doi:10.1002/0471143030.cb0428s65

*Khosravi, F., R.L. Reid, A. Moini, F. Abolhassani, F.W.K. Kan. (2013) In vitro development of human primary follicles to preantral stage after vitrification. J. Assist. Reprod. Genet. 30:1397-1406

*Saccary, L., Y.M. She, R. Oko, F.W.K. Kan (2013) Hamster oviductin regulates tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins during in vitro capacitation. Biology of Reproduction Aug 22; 89(2):38. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.109314. Print 2013 Aug.

*Yang, X., S. Tao, R. Orlando, I. Brockhausen, F.W.K. Kan. (2012) Structures and biosynthesis of the N- and O-glycans of recombinant human oviduct-specific glycoprotein expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. Carbohydrates Research 358:47-55

*Albaghdadi, A. and F.W.K. Kan. (2012) Endometrial receptivity defects and impaired implantation in diabetic NOD mice. Biology of Reproduction Aug 2; 87(2):30. doi: 10.1095/bioreprod.112.100016. Print 2012 Aug.

Wu, Z., F.W.K. Kan, Y.-M. She, V.K. Walker. (2012) Biofilm, ice recrystallization inhibition and freeze-thaw protection in an epipihyte community. Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology 48:403-410

Yan, J., J. Suzuki, X.-M. Yu, J. Qiao, F.W.K. Kan, R.C. Chian. (2011) Effects of duration of cryo-storage of mouse oocytes on cryo-survival, fertilization and embryonic development following vitrification. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 28:643-649

Yan, J., J. Suzuki, X.-M. Yu, F.W.K. Kan, J. Qiao, R.C. Chian. (2010) Cryo-survival, fertilization and early embryonic development of vitrified oocytes derived from mice of different reproductive age. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 27:605-611.

Moos, M.P.W., J.D. Mewbiurn, F.W.K. Kan, S. Ishii, M. Abe, K. Sakimura, K. Noguchi, T. Shimizu, C.D. Funk. (2008) Cysteinyl leukotriene 2 receptor mediated vascular permeability via transendothelial vesicle transport. FASEB Journal 172: 592-602

Kan, F.W.K., P.-K. Forkert, M. Wade. (2007) Trichloroethylene exposure elicits damage in epididymal epithelium and spermatozoa in mice. Histology and Histopathology 22: 977-988

Kan, F.W.K. (2006) Molecular dissection of the mouse zona pellucida: An electron microscopic perspective utilizing colloidal-gold labeling methods. Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol.347: Glycobiology Protocols, Edited by Inka Brockhausen, Chapter 19, Humana Press Inc., Totowa, New Jersey, p.289-304

Kan, F.W.K. and *P.W.B. Esperanzate. (2006) Surface mapping of binding of oviductin to the plasma membrane of golden hamster spermatozoa during in vivo capacitation and acrosome reaction. Molecular Reproduction and Development 73: 756-766

Kan, F.W.K. and *D.S. McBride. (2005) Estrous Cycle-dependent glycosylation and post-translational modification of oviductin in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). In: New Impact in protein modifications in the regulation of reproduction.Toshinobu Tokumoto, Editor, Chapter 8, Research Signpost, Kerala, India, p.135-153

*Ling, L., Y.L. Lee, K.F. Lee, S.W. Tsao, W.S.B. Yeung, F.W.K. Kan, (2005) Human oviductin mRNA is expressed in an immortalized human oviductal cell line. Sterility and Fertility 84: 1095-1103

*McBride, D.S., I. Brockhausen, F.W.K. Kan, (2005) Detection of glycosyltransferases in the Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) oviductin and evidence for the regulation of O-glycan biosynthesis during the estrous cycle. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1721: 107-115

*McBride, D.S., C. Boisvert, G. Bleau, F.W.K. Kan. (2004) Detection of nascent and/or mature forms of oviductin in the female reproductive tract and post-ovulatory oocytes by use of a polyclonal antibody against recombinant hamster oviductin. Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry 52:1001-1009

Team

Faculty Bio

Research Interests:

Selected Publications:

Faculty