| Germ Plasm Assembly and Germ Cell Migration in Drosophila
Ruth Lehmann Ph.D.
Julius Raynes Professor of Developmental Genetics
Department of Cell Biology (Skirball) Skirball Institute Program of Developmental Genetics |
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| Research Summary |
| Our work focuses on genetic pathways that establish polarity along the embryonic anterior-posterior axis and control germ cell development in Drosophila. The embryonic axes are established during oogenesis by the function of maternal effect genes. Many of the events that determine the future antero-posterior axis of the embryo are controlled at the posttranscriptional level. We are studying the regulation of RNA localization and translation using genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches: Studies on the Egalitarian and BicaudalD gene show that these two proteins are part of a larger protein complex. This complex is involved in the determination the oocyte and orientation of the microtubule network. Consequently, specific RNAs and proteins can get transported into the oocyte and become properly localized to the egg poles. The nanos and pumilio genes are required for pattern formation in the embryo at a later stage. Pumilio, a sequence-specific RNA binding protein represses translation through sequences located in the 3 UTR of target genes. Pumilio acts together with Nanos, which is distributed in a posterior to anterior protein gradient. One of the targets is hunchback RNA whose translation is repressed in the posterior region of the embryo to allow abdomen formation. The primordial germ cells (PGCs) are set aside from the cells that give rise to the soma early in development. Drosophila PGCs like PGCs in many other organisms migrate through and along different tissues to align with the somatic part of the gonad. A large scale mutagenesis screen has allowed us to identify critical steps in the process of PGC migration and gonad formation. This and other studies suggest that repulsive as well as attractive signals emanating from the soma guide germ cell during their migration. Germ plasm assembly and germ cell migration in Drosophila Our work focuses on genetic pathways that establish polarity along the embryonic anterior-posterior axis and control germ cell development in Drosophila. The embryonic axes are established during oogenesis by the function of maternal effect genes. Many of the events that determine the future antero-posterior axis of the embryo are controlled at the posttranscriptional level. We are studying the regulation of RNA localization and translation using genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches: Studies on the Egalitarian and BicaudalD gene show that these two proteins are part of a larger protein complex. This complex is involved in the determination the oocyte and orientation of the microtubule network. Consequently, specific RNAs and proteins can get transported into the oocyte and become properly localized to the egg poles. The nanos and pumilio genes are required for pattern formation in the embryo at a later stage. Pumilio, a sequence-specific RNA binding protein represses translation through sequences located in the 3 UTR of target genes. Pumilio acts together with Nanos, which is distributed in a posterior to anterior protein gradient. One of the targets is hunchback RNA whose translation is repressed in the posterior region of the embryo to allow abdomen formation. The primordial germ cells (PGCs) are set aside from the cells that give rise to the soma early in development. Drosophila PGCs like PGCs in many other organisms migrate through and along different tissues to align with the somatic part of the gonad. A large scale mutagenesis screen has allowed us to identify critical steps in the process of PGC migration and gonad formation. This and other studies suggest that repulsive as well as attractive signals emanating from the soma guide germ cell during their migration. |
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| Research Information |
Research Interests | Translational Regulation, RNA Localization and Transport, Germ Plasm Assembly, Germ Cell Migration and Gonadogenesis in Drosophila | Research Keywords | germ cell migration, germ plasm assembly, gonad formation, translational regulation, RNA localization, polarity, pattern formation |
