Research in the Dobens Lab
We use Drosophila to study intercellular signaling pathways that control cell proliferation, migration and differentiation during organ formation. Our focus is the regulation and function of the bunched gene, a fly transcription factor homologous to the human tumor suppressor gene TSC-22 and a second mammalian gene, Glucocorticoid Induced Leucine Zipper (GILZ), which has roles in adipogenesis, erythrogenesis and lymphogenesis. Using genetic tools to precisely manipulate gene activity, our long-term goal is to understand the conserved molecular mechanism by which bunched family members mediate cell signaling to direct tissue patterning. In a separate project, the lab uses a model tissue to understand how tissue-specific steroid hormone receptor responses regulate cell migration and DNA replication. More info here.
Researchers in the lab include graduate students in the UMKC Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program and CMB Masters program, UMKC undergraduates performing extended research (LS409, SEARCH and Sapere Vedere scholarships); and professional technicians and postdocs. More info here, here and here.
Research at the School of Biological Sciences
The department has over 35 faculty members who share well-maintained core facilities for genomics, proteomics, structural biology, cell culture and microscopy. Kansas City is a life science research hub, with nearby colleagues at the Stowers Institute (adjacent to our building), KU Medical Center (3 mi east) and Children's Mercy (3 mi. north), KU (40 mi. west), MU (120 mi. east) and KSU (120 mi. west). More info here .
Publications
Ash, D. Hackney, J., Jean-Francois, M. Burton, N and Dobens, L.L. A dominant negative allele of the Drosophila leucine zipper protein Bunched blocks bunched function during tissue patterning. Mechanisms of Development, 124(7-8):559-69, 2007. link
Hackney, J.F., Pucci, C., Naes, E. and Dobens, L.L. Ras signaling modulates activity of the ecdysone receptor EcR during cell migration in the Drosophila ovary. Developmental Dynamics, 236:1213-1226, 2007. link
Levine, B, Jean-Francois, M., Ash, D. and Dobens, L.L. Notch links interactions between bunched, the fly GILZ homolog, and the C/EBP encoded by slow border cells during Drosophila follicle cell differentiation. Dev. Biol. 305, 217-231, 2007. link
Dobens et al., "bunched sets a boundary of Notch signaling to pattern anterior eggshell structures during Drosophila oogenesis. Dev. Biol., 287(2):425-37, 2005. link
Support
The lab is supported by the National Science Foundation, and by grants from the University of Missouri Research Board and UMKC Faculty Research Grants.
More info here, here and here.
