Research Projects
In the Verheyen lab we have three main overlapping areas of interest. We use molecular, genetic, and biochemical approaches to understand organismal development. We characterize signal transduction pathways that drive proper differentiation and are disrupted in diseases such as cancer. We have also generated models of human developmental disorders to gain insight into mechanisms of disease. For these studies, we use Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, as a genetic model organism. Most genes implicated in human disease have counterparts in the fly, enabling us to take advantage of the exquisite genetic tractability to understand protein function in numerous developmental contexts.
Studying cancer in Flies
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We have been studying “Hipk” proteins and their regulation of organ growth. Hipk proteins are found in many species including humans. We and others have found that loss of Hipk/Hipk2 in both mice and flies results in reduced proliferation, suggesting that Hipk family members are required for growth. We generated a novel cancer model in flies that is due to having too much Hipk protein. This causes fly organs and limbs to overgrow massively. In addition, cells bud off from these organs and move to new locations within the body, dramatically mimicking what occurs during metastasis of cancers in humans. We are currently trying to understand how Hipk hijacks the normal cellular control mechanisms to cause cells to become rogue and initiate tumors and metastasis. We hope to find ways to reverse the effects of Hipk on cells, leading to the therapies that can be used to treat certain cancers.
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Modeling Robinow Syndrome in Drosophila and Chick
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We are studying autosomal dominant Robinow syndrome (RS), in which genetic changes affecting WNT signaling pathways have been found. Major clinical features include shortening of the limbs and craniofacial abnormalities, suggesting fundamental defects in skeletal tissue organization. In collaboration with Dr. Joy Richman at UBC we are using the chicken embryo and fruit fly to study the links between genotype and phenotype. By expressing human gene variants in animal models, we learn not only about the impact of the mutation on gene function but also about how polarity in vertebrate cells contributes to morphogenesis.
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Control of organ formation and morphogenesis during development
The long-term goal of my research program is to understand how groups of cells develop into specialized adult organs. Such a process requires regulation of growth, morphogenesis and differentiation. My research group uses the well-characterized, genetically-tractable fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model organism. Specifically, we seek to understand how developmental processes are regulated by protein kinases, as precise regulation of signal transduction pathways is often achieved through the reversible phosphorylation of proteins.
Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
