Photo of Dr. Kristen E. Govoni

Faculty Member Profile

Kristen E. Govoni

Assistant Professor

Background ~ Courses Taught ~ Research Interests ~ Recent Publications ~ Awards Received ~ Hobbies or Non-Academic Interests ~ Favorite Links

Phone number 860-486-2480

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Background:

Dr. Govoni is a Connecticut native and received all three of her degrees (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.) here at the University of Connecticut in the Department of Animal Science. After receiving her Ph.D. in 2003, Dr. Govoni pursued postdoctoral research experience in the Musculoskeletal Disease Center at the Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA. In 2008, Dr. Govoni returned to her home state of CT and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science.

Courses Taught:

ANSC 2111Principles of Animal Nutrition
ANSC 3194 Seminar
SAAS 294 Seminar

Research Interests:

The focus of my current research is on the role of the growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, transcription factors and nutrition in the regulation of bone metabolism. Through a better understanding of the factors that regulate development and maintenance in bone, as well as their mechanisms of action, we can identify ways to prevent and/or treat bone-related diseases and abnormalities in both humans and livestock. Current research in the lab focuses on the effect of different feed additives on bone development in poultry and the role of various transcriptions factors, in particular the T-box family, in regulating osteoblast function. In vivo and in vitro models, molecular biology and molecular genetic approaches are utilized in my laboratory.

Recent Publications:

Govoni, KE, Linares, GR, Chen, ST, Pourteymoor, S, and Mohan, S. 2009. T-box 3 negatively regulates osteoblast differentiation by inhibiting expression of osterix and runx2. J Cell Biochem. 106:482-90.

Linares, GR, Xing, W, Govoni, KE, Chen, ST, and Mohan, S. 2009. Glutaredoxin 5 regulates osteoblast apoptosis by protecting against oxidative stress. Bone. 44:795-804.

Govoni, KE, Donahue LR, Marden C, Mohan S. 2008. Complex genetic regulation of bone mineral density and insulin-like growth factor-I in C57BL/6J-Chr #A/J/NaJ chromosome substitution strains. Physiol Genomics. 35:159-64. Epub 2008 Aug 5.

Govoni, KE, Wergedal, JE, Chadwick, RB, Srivistava, AK, and Mohan, S. 2008. Pre-pubertal OVX increases IGF-I expression and bone accretion in C57BL/6J mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 295:E1172-80. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Govoni, KE, Wergedal, JE, Florin, L, Angel P, Baylink, DJ, and Mohan, S. 2007. Conditional Deletion of IGF-I in Collagen Type 1 alpha-2 (Col1 alpha-2) Expressing Cells Results In Postnatal Lethality and a Dramatic Reduction in Bone Accretion. Endocrinology 148:8706-15 Epub 2007 Aug 23.

Velayudhan, BT, Govoni, KE, Hoagland, TA, and Zinn, SA. 2007. Growth rate and concentrations of the somatotropic axis in beef cattle administered exogenous bovine somatotropin beginning at 200, 250 and 300 days of age. J. Anim. Sci. 85:2886-72.

Govoni, KE, Lee, SK, Chung, YS, Behringer, RR, Wergedal, JE, Baylink, DJ, and Mohan, S. 2007. Disruption of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I expression in type II?I collagen expressing cells reduces bone length and width in mice. Physiol. Genomics. 30:354-62 Epub 2007May 22.

Govoni, KE, Baylink, DJ, Chen, J, and Mohan, S. 2006. Disruption of four and a half LIM domain (FHL)-2 decreases bone mineral content and bone mineral density in femur and tibia bones of female mice. Calcified Tissue International 79:112-7. Epub 2006 Aug 15.

Govoni, KE, Lee, SK, Chadwick, RB, Yu, H, Kasukawa, Y, Baylink, DJ, and Mohan, S. 2006. Whole Genome Microarray Analysis of the In Vivo Effects of a Single Effective GH Dose on Gene Expression in Bones of GH-Deficient lit/lit Mice: GH regulates T-box3, a Novel Transcription Factor, Independent of IGF-I. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 291:E128-36. Epub 2006 Feb 7.

Govoni, KE, Kramer, A, Winter, E, Amaar, YG, Baylink, DJ, and Mohan, S. 2005 In Press. Regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-5, four and a half lim (FHL)-2, and a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM)-9 expression in osteoblasts. Growth Hormone and IGF Research 16:49-56. Epub 2005 Nov 28.

Govoni, KE, Baylink, DJ, and Mohan, S. 2005. The multi-functional role of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in bone. Pediatr. Nephrol. 20:261-268.

Govoni, KE, Hoagland, TA, and Zinn, SA. 2004. The ontogeny of the somatotropic axis in Hereford calves from birth to one year of age and its response to administration of exogenous bovine somatotropin. J. Anim. Sci. 82:1646-1655.

Govoni, KE, Hoagland, TA, and Zinn, SA. 2003. The ontogeny of the somatotropic axis in male and female Hereford calves from birth to one year of age. J. Anim. Sci. 81:2811-2817.

Govoni, KE, XC Tian, GW Kazmer, M Taneja, B Enright, AL Rivard, X Yang and SA Zinn. 2002. Age-related changes of the somatotropic axis in cloned Holstein calves. Biol. of Reprod. 66:1293-1298.

Rausch, MI, MW Tripp, KE Govoni, W Zang, WJ Weber, BA Crooker, TA Hoagland and SA Zinn. 2002. Limit feeding and somatotropin supplementation in growing beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 80:94-100.

Phillips, AL, C Faustman, MP Lynch, KE Govoni, TA Hoagland and SA Zinn. 2001. Effects of dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation on color and lipid stability in pork. Meat Science 58:389-393.

Freake, HC, KE Govoni, K Guda, C Huang and SA Zinn. 2001. Actions and interactions of thyroid hormones and zinc status in growing rats. J. Nutr. 131:1135-1141.

Awards & Achievements:


Hobbies or Non-Academic Interests:

Horseback riding, camping, hiking, running


Favorite Links:

The Jackson Lab

PubMed