Research groups

Research

Structure Functional genomic analysis of signalling pathways using C.elegans.

Functional genomic analysis of signalling pathways in C. elegans Our research group is taking advantage of the genetic tractability and the availability of the entire genome sequence of C. elegans to gain an integrated understanding of organismal development and physiology. We are using classical and functional genomic approaches, such as RNAi (RNA mediated interference), fluorescent reporters, protein chemistry and microscopic methods to study DNA damage responses and cell signalling pathways. The types of questions that we are interested in answering include:

• How does a developing organism respond to UV induced DNA damage?
• What is the role of lipid and protein trafficking in cytokinesis?
• How do signalling pathways evolve – what facets are conserved and what aspects are organism specific?

Students are encouraged to develop independence at an early stage, but are provided with a supportive environment and leave with a strong foundation in molecular, genetic and bioinformatic techniques.

Group

Joseph Gallagher, Peter Joyce, Alyce Merry, Aman Sood.

Recent publications

Zugasti O, Rajan J, Kuwabara PE. (2005) The function and expansion of the Patched- and Hedgehog-related homologs in C. elegans. Genome Res. 15, 1402-1410.

Astin, J., Merry, A., Rajan, J., and Kuwabara, P.E. (2004) Caenorhabditis elegans functional genomics: omic resonance. Briefings in Functional Genomics and Proteomics 3 26-34.

Kuwabara, P.E. (2004) The multifaceted C. elegans major sperm protein: an ephrin signaling antagonist in oocyte maturation. Genes and Development 17 155-161.

Bergamaschi, D., Samuels, Y., O'Neil, N.J., Trigiante, G., Crook, T., Hsieh, J.K., O'Connor, D.J., Zhong, S., Campargue, I., Tomlinson, M.L., Kuwabara, P.E., and Lu, X.(2003) iASPP oncoprotein is a key inhibitor of p53 conserved from worm to human. Nature Genetics 33 162-167.