Olfaction in Drosophila
We are studying the molecular genetic basis of olfaction, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. This research topic is of broad significance from both fundamental and applied perspectives as the sense of smell is vital for most animals in finding food, identifying mates, and avoiding predators. It is also a fascinating sense for neurobiologists, as animals can detect and discriminate amongst literally thousands of different chemical compounds. How can this be achieved at the molecular level? How does such a complex information coding system work? As well as this fundamental interest, there are also applied aspects to this research in pest control and in the development of biosensors, machines that can sense volatile chemicals in the environment.
 
In insects odorants are initially detected by a family of odorant receptor proteins, however the signal transduction pathway(s) activated by these receptor proteins are not well understood.
We are identifying genes involved in this pathway in Drosophila, which offers many advantages such as a sequenced genome and powerful genetic approaches to study gene function.
MACPF (Membrane Attack Complex/Perforin-like) gene function in Drosophila development
(Collaboration with Professor James Whisstock, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
The Drosophila torso-like gene is the only fly member of the Membrane Attack Complex / Perforin-like (MACPF) protein superfamily, which include pore forming toxins that play key roles in vertebrate immunity, often by forming pores in membranes and lysing cells. However some MACPF proteins, such as Tsl, play a role outside immunity and intriguingly appear to be essential for developmental processes. Tsl is maternally expressed and secreted by a subpopulation of follicle cells at the anterior and posterior regions of the maturing oocyte, where it is proposed it functions to permit proteolytic cleavage of the ligand for the Torso receptor tyrosine kinase, ensuring Torso signalling only in these regions and, in consequence, the development of appropriate anterior and posterior structures. However, the mechanism of action of Tsl in this process is not known. Tsl also has other roles in Drosophila, as preliminary studies have shown that it is zygotically expressed in a complex and dynamic pattern during embryonic development, including in a subset of the central nervous system.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases and Cellular Signalling in Drosophila
(Collaboration with Dr Tony Tiganis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University)
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs) are key regulatory enzymes of tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signalling, and their mutation can contribute to development of human disease. Virtually all aspects of development and growth involve tyrosine phosphorylation, and aberrant tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signalling underlies the pathogenesis of varied diseases including cancer,diabetes, heart disease, immune diseases & neurological disorders. Surprisingly, despite their pivotal roles in regulating fundamental cellular processes, relatively little is known about the specific functions of most PTPs. Many mammalian PTPs and the cellular processes they control appear to be conserved in Drosophila melanogaster. Due to the availability of many sophisticated molecular genetic techniques, Drosophila is a very attractive system in which to study the functions of PTPs. |
