Abstract

Research in our group investigates cellular mechanisms of epigenetic plasticity. We aim to understand:

1) how epigenetic plasticity is regulated by signaling pathways,

2) how epigenetic switches modulate gene expression,

3) how these processes causes the emergence of cell and tissue behavior.

Our lab is applying the advantages of the Drosophila system – sophisticated genetic tools, cellular analysis and experimental tractability – to dissect these three questions in fly models of development, tumorigenesis and tissue regeneration. The function and regulation of the conserved epigenetic regulators of the Polycomb and Trithorax group complexes (PcG/TrxG) in these contexts is currently our main focus.

We are using a range of molecular, cell-biological and biochemical approaches, such as Confocal Microscopy, DamID profiling and Mass Spectrometry to bridge molecular epigenetics with in vivo developmental cell biology. We hope to contribute to the understanding of basic epigenetic processes that function during embryonic development, but also in contexts of cellular stress and injury that are caused, for example, by chronic diseases or ageing.