Douglas Cavener

DEVELOPMENTAL AND EVOLUTIONARY DETERMINANTS OF GENE REGULATION

We are investigating the function, regulation and evolution of Drosophila GLD (glucose dehydrogenase). GLD is rare flavo-selenoenzyme that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and participates in an eclectic set of seemingly unrelated functions in Drosophila: developmental modification of the puparium, immunity, and female fertility. We have extensively studied the developmental regulation of GLD and are currently focused on determining the role of GLD in female fertility. In addition we wish to understand how developmental determination and differentiation of tissues and organs provide opportunities and constraints for the evolution of the transcriptional regulatory circuits that control GLD expression.

Kyung-An Han

NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEARNING AND MEMORY

The major interest of my laboratory is the neuromodulatory functions and their cellular mechanisms underlying learning, memory and drug addiction. Our research currently focuses on the dopamine and octopamine receptors, DAMB and OAMB, respectively. These receptors not only display predominant expression in the mushroom bodies of the fly brain, a neuroanatomical substrate for associative behavior, but also trigger increases in cAMP and Ca2+, mediators of signal transduction pathways crucial for learning and memory. Using molecular, cellular, genetic, pharmacological and behavioral tools, we are investigating a potential role of DAMB and OAMB in behavioral plasticity.

Zhi-Chun Lai

EYE DEVELOPMENT

My lab is interested in addressing two basic questions in developmental neurobiology: how neurons are specified and how neural tissues are patterned. Our system is the Drosophila compound eye. Specifically our research is focused on two nuclear proteins (Yan and Tramtrack). Our goal is to reveal how yan expression is established in the developing eye. Furthermore, molecular genetic analysis of the delayed furrow (defu) gene will hopefully provide a better understanding of mechanisms of eye morphogenesis.

Pamela J. Mitchell

LIMB & CNS DEVELOPMENT

In our studies with mice and Drosophila, we have shown that AP-2 family transcription factors have ancient roles in regulating development of limbs, mouth parts, and specific brain regions affecting locomotion. We are using the versatile tools of Drosophila genetics to elucidate evolutionarily conserved regulatory pathways within which AP-2 transcription factors function during limb outgrowth and nervous system development.

Richard W. Ordway

MECHANISMS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION

Our laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nerve cell function. Our primary focus has been on the mechanisms of neurotransmitter release at chemical synapses, with emphasis on synaptic vesicle trafficking and regulated exocytosis. Drosophila is a powerful model for this work because it allows highly conserved synaptic mechanisms to be investigated using a unique combination of experimental approaches. Genetic, molecular, ultrastructural, biochemical and electrophysiological analysis of single gene mutations is used to define the in vivo functions and interactions of specific gene products in synaptic transmission.

Stephen W. Schaeffer

EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS

My laboratory is interested in how natural selection has altered the frequencies of chromosomal inversions among geographic populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura. The gene arrangements of D. pseudoobscura have figured prominently in the literature of evolutionary biology for more than fifty years because they have been a model system for studies of geographic variation, natural selection, gene flow, and genetic drift. We are currently interested in determining how selection alters the frequencies of inversions and mapping the genes that have been the targets of selection.

Graham Thomas

CYTOSKELETON IN DEVELOPMENT

Research in my lab asks fundamental questions about the roles of the cytoskeleton at the cell membrane in epithelial cells, including issues of cell polarity and adhesion, cell signaling, and morphogenesis. Drosophila is our model system because of the multidisciplinary combination of tools available, and because of its well characterized development. We use both molecular and cellular techniques as well as classical and transgenic genetic approaches.

Diana Cox-Foster - Host/Pathogen Interactions

David S. Gilmour - Transcriptional Regulation

James H. Marden - Physiology of Insect Flight

C.-P. David Tu - Glutathione S-Transferase