Research in the Dobens Lab
We use Drosophila to study intercellular signaling pathways that control cell proliferation, migration and differentiation during organ formation. Using Drosophila oogenesis as a model system, our focus is the interaction among a set of genes that regulate tissue migration. Four genes - slbo, the fly C/EBP, cut, the fly Cux homolog, bunched, a fly transcription factor gene homologous to human tumor suppressor gene TSC-22, and tribbles, a member of the TRB pseudokinase family - operate in a conserved genetic cassette that regulates fly cell differentiation in a manner in a manner similar to their vertebrate counterparts that regulate adipogenesis, erythrogenesis and lymphogenesis. Our long-term goal is to understand the conserved molecular mechanism by which theses genes link tissue patterning to cell migration. In a separate project, we study how tissue-specific steroid hormone receptor responses regulate cell migration and DNA replication. More info on research in the lab here.
Researchers in the lab include graduate students in the UMKC Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program and Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) Masters program, UMKC undergraduates performing extended research (LS409, SEARCH and Sapere Vedere scholarships); and professional technicians and postdocs. More info on these programs here, here and here.
Research at the School of Biological Sciences
The department has over 30 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 on our facilities here .
Publications
Patrizia, R., Fabio, B., Hackney, J., Dobens, L.L., Gargiulo, G., Cavaliere, V. Cell survival and polarity of Drosophila follicle cells require the activity of Ecdysone Receptor B1 isoform. Genetics, 181(1):165-75, 2009. 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
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
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.
