What functions do these genes take in the life of the organ? Tools: Inducible transgenic and knockout mice A major project is to study the hair follicle mini-organ in an effort to understand how it forms and how it delivers its product – the structural hair. In recent years this skin appendage has become a most useful developmental model system for organogenesis, cell fate decisions, patterning and adult stem cell control. In the figure we portray one of our major “hair” quests - defining the roles in skin of the not so widely known but very important Runx transcription factors family.
The Origin of Runx Genes
How are genes “born” in evolution? Tools: The Nematostella model and computational biology A new study explores the evolutionary origins of the Runx genes, which are a metazoan novelty. For this aim, we have introduced the sea-anemone Nematostella vectensis, which is a new model organism representing a basal metazoan. We are studying the primordial Runx gene in this animal and aim to uncover its emergence in evolution. Ms.c , Ph.D or undergraduate Students are needed for this project
The Hippo Pathway of Organ Growth Regulation: Through an Evolutionary Looking Glass How did this important pathway evolve in animals? What new insights can we get from an evolutionary stand point? Tools: bioinformatics and computational biology. The sea-anemone Nematostella model system
The Hippo pathway is an important and interesting developmental signaling pathway which plays an important role in animal organ size control. The pathway which is the latest major developmental pathway that was defined regulates tissue proliferation and apoptosis rates as a response to developmental cues, cell contact and density. We study the evolution of the Hippo pathway focusing on the transcriptional co-activator YAP, a pivotal effector of the pathway and an oncogene in human. We found most of the known mammalian components in the sea-anemone Nematostella vectensis, which displays a pre-bilaterian basal form of the pathway. Most of the major domains of YAP have been conserved between cnidarians and mammals. This project aims to study how the Hippo pathway operates in Nematostella and what can we learn from this basal animal about the general principals of its activity and how it has evolved.
post-doc/ Ms.c , Ph.D or undergraduate Students are needed for this project
The ANE syndrome: a Disease of Hair Loss and Neurological Disorders
What is the developmental mechanism at the base of this syndrome? Tools: mouse and human genetics. Developmental, cell biology and biochemical approaches
This rare genetic disease causes Alopecia (baldness), Neurological defects (e.g. mental retardation), and Endocrinopathy (faults in hormones function). The gene responsible for this syndrome was recently identified and is an RNA binding protein named RBM28. We are interested in the mechanisms of this gene’s activity and how it specifically affects hair and neural tissues. We plan to use mouse models and create novel genetically engineered mice to explore the molecular function of this gene and the developmental pathways it affects. We aim to first explore the role of this gene in hair development and growth and then uncover the common mode of operation in the hair follicles and neurological tissues post-doc/ Ms.c or Ph.D Students are needed for this project
Spider Silk Fibers Production
What is the structure of this superior material? Tools: Genetic engineering and new modes of fiber production A different project in the lab is the study of a remarkable material, which like hair is also a protein based fiber – the spider silk. We have established a new expression system for the production and analysis of the structure of this extremely strong and tough fibers. Our approach has led to a better insight of the mode these fibers are made by self-assembly of their monomeric protein building blocks, and we strive to produce novel spider-silk fibers tailored for the use of man other than spiderman.