Present Lab Members

 

Mufida AlAzzabi

We examine the gene expression in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) treated with heavy metals such as NaAsO2 , HgCl2, CdCl2 , and NiCl2 . These metals are toxic compounds which are found in our environment, and can alter epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation.

 

Louise Coverdale

DNA methyltransferase (MTase), Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), and Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) are three important genes that each have a specific role in DNA methylation. Through the microinjection of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides that are specific for each one of these genes I am able to 'knockdown' these proteins (create morhpants) and then observe the effects on early zebrafish development. Since DNA methylation is linked to gene regulation, it is hypothesized that disturbances in this process can lead to the altered expression of genes. I am using DNA microarray technology to determine if there is gene expression changes in the morphant embryos.

 

Maryam Kamkar

Transgenic animals are very efficient tools in molecular developmental biology, especially in studying promoters and gene expression. Microinjection is a technique that is widely used to make transgenic zebrafish. In the transgenic technique, the promoter of one gene is placed before another structural gene to make a unique construct in which both the promoter and the structural gene can be studied. I am interested in HSP10/60 promoter activity, a bidirectional heat inducible promoter. My aim is to characterize the promoter expression, as well as overexpress other interested genes (using this promoter), and study the resulting effects. I also work on hypoxia inducible element-1a (HIF-1a). A transgenic fish that contains a mutated HIF-1a protein expresses it even in the absence of hypoxic induction. This makes it possible to study hypoxia without the side effects of low oxygenic conditions, and also deduce the genes that are expressed by this transcription factor.

 

 

   

 

Renjitha Pillai

 

A key step in the development of an organism is the differentiation of precursor cells in to cells of different types. Differentiation requires setting up of gene expression patterns early in development. In eukaryotes, this ‘expressed’ and ‘silenced’ state of the gene is regulated by two very important epigenetic proteins, histone acetyl transferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). I am studying the zebrafish histone deacetylase ,HDAC-1 and its function during embryonic development. I have analysed the expression pattern of HDAC-1 during embryonic development and also the effects of HDAC-1 knock down on embryonic development. I am also planning to do a microarray analysis on the HDAC-1 knockdown embryos in order to gain a broader perspective on the regulatory effects of HDAC-1 during embryonic development of Zebrafish.

 

Past and Present Members of the Lab