Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Director: W. Allan Walker
Summary of Research
My laboratory uses the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as a model system for studying epithelial morphogenesis and growth regualtion at the cellular and molecular level during the development of a living organism. We are interested in the connection of growth control and shape formation of cells and organs during development. We are currently characterizing C. elegans homologs of a family of FERM-domain containing cytoskeletal tumor suppressor and oncogenes, which have a role in both processes. The C. elegans mutations we study have defects in the formation of the tubular epithelia of the digestive, excretory and gonad systems. The simple epithelia of this transparent roundworm allow for a detailed analysis of number, size and shape of single cells at each step in development. We hope that this type of analysis will help elucidate the process of growth inhibition and shape formation mediated by the cytoskeleton. Since all genes are highly conserved to vertebrates, it is expected that these findings will be applicable to human development and disease.
Contact Information
Phone: 617-726-7991
Fax: 617-726-4172
E-mail: gobel@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
