In the Verheyen lab we use molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches to understand organismal growth and patterning. Specifically, we are interested in how cells control their growth and how certain tissues regulate their pattern formation. To do this, we use Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, as a genetic model organism.
Development of complex organisms requires that cells communicate and coordinate their growth and identities. Starting from the embryonic stages, cells choose between dividing to create new cells (and promoting growth) and ceasing to divide and acquiring a cellular identity. These decisions are largely governed by proteins that physically touch each other. These protein contacts set into motion a cascade of events termed signal transduction, or signaling. Thus a protein on the cell surface can start a relay of information that travels to the nucleus to influence the expression of genes that encode proteins.
Our studies of Drosophila development allow us to ask questions about how cells respond to cues from neighboring cells. We are interested in how these processes are regulated by reversible phosphorylation of proteins. In the past, we have focused our efforts on two protein kinases that regulate cellular processes. These kinases, Nemo/Nlk and Hipk, both act during many stages of development and are essential for organismal survival. They exert their effect through regulation of key evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathways, including those implicated in causing cancer when improperly regulated. Our goal is to gain an understanding of the mechanisms used by cells to ensure properly regulated growth and tissue formation.
More recently our studies have expanded to incorporate studies of other kinases and protein phosphatases and their control of essential developmental processes and signal transduction. We are also using Drosophila as a tool to understand human diseases. We are using the power of genetics to learn more about several fly models for human diseases, such as cancer, neurodegeneration and developmental syndromes.
Development of complex organisms requires that cells communicate and coordinate their growth and identities. Starting from the embryonic stages, cells choose between dividing to create new cells (and promoting growth) and ceasing to divide and acquiring a cellular identity. These decisions are largely governed by proteins that physically touch each other. These protein contacts set into motion a cascade of events termed signal transduction, or signaling. Thus a protein on the cell surface can start a relay of information that travels to the nucleus to influence the expression of genes that encode proteins.
Our studies of Drosophila development allow us to ask questions about how cells respond to cues from neighboring cells. We are interested in how these processes are regulated by reversible phosphorylation of proteins. In the past, we have focused our efforts on two protein kinases that regulate cellular processes. These kinases, Nemo/Nlk and Hipk, both act during many stages of development and are essential for organismal survival. They exert their effect through regulation of key evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathways, including those implicated in causing cancer when improperly regulated. Our goal is to gain an understanding of the mechanisms used by cells to ensure properly regulated growth and tissue formation.
More recently our studies have expanded to incorporate studies of other kinases and protein phosphatases and their control of essential developmental processes and signal transduction. We are also using Drosophila as a tool to understand human diseases. We are using the power of genetics to learn more about several fly models for human diseases, such as cancer, neurodegeneration and developmental syndromes.
