Angus Macnicol

Angus Macnicol is a Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Science within the College of Medicine. He also holds appointments in the Departments of Physiology and Cell Biology, and Genetics. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of pituitary plasticity, particularly examining how leptin signaling regulates pituitary cell function and development through mRNA translational control mechanisms.

Dr. Macnicol's research interests center on RNA-binding proteins, particularly the Musashi family, and their role in regulating mRNA translation during pituitary development and function. His work investigates how leptin signaling serves as a metabolic checkpoint for reproductive competence through translational control of key pituitary mRNAs. He examines the molecular mechanisms underlying somatotrope and gonadotrope cell plasticity, with particular attention to how nutritional status affects pituitary hormone production and cellular differentiation. His research integrates transcriptomics, proteomics, and molecular biology approaches to understand the post-transcriptional regulatory networks governing pituitary development and function.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on the role of Musashi RNA-binding proteins in pituitary cell function, with particular attention to how leptin signaling regulates mRNA translation in somatotropes and gonadotropes. His work demonstrates how metabolic signals like leptin can modulate pituitary plasticity through post-transcriptional mechanisms, with implications for understanding reproductive development and metabolic disorders.

Dr. Macnicol serves as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects, including the R01DK139476 grant titled "Molecular mechanisms of pituitary plasticity" (2024-2029). He has previously led research on mRNA translational control in early vertebrate development (R01HD035688) and has served as Co-Principal Investigator on several studies examining leptin's role in pituitary function. His research program has received continuous funding from the NIH and the American Cancer Society since the early 2000s.

His laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms of pituitary cell plasticity, with particular focus on how RNA-binding proteins like Musashi regulate target mRNA translation in response to metabolic signals. The lab employs a range of techniques including transcriptomics, proteomics, molecular biology, and mouse models to understand how nutritional status affects pituitary development and hormone production.