Many muscle genes have alternatively spliced transcripts.
In a previous work, we identified gene Bruno as a master regulator of fiber-specific transcripts splicing in the flight muscles. Interestingly, flight muscles expressing wrong transcript isoforms have completely disorganized myofibrils.
Jump Muscle, normal Alpha-integrin, F-actin, DNA
Adult flies possess complex skeletal muscles, such as this jump muscle, consisting of multiple fibers. With advanced age, individual fibers may spontaneously degenerate and die. This phenomenon resembles muscle mass loss in elders, also known as sarcopenia. We work diligently to determine genetic factors that make m. fibers less (or more) susceptible to this spontaneous degeneration.
Stem cells in the midgut of a fly
A new project in the lab addresses mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity. Absorptive epithelial, such as midgut epithelium in flies and renal epithelium in humans, suffer from cadmium accumulation. We alter stem cells to improve cadmium resistance in flies.