Research Projects
Identification of a novel mechanism for dMyc degradation: As most of proteins playing a role in cell cycle regulation, dMyc has a short half-life and its level of expression is tightly regulated, therefore cells might adapt rapidly to changes in dMyc expression bringing it back to physiological condition. Using biochemical and genetic approaches we are interested in study the processes that regulate dMyc protein degradation. In particular we have identify a novel mechanism that involves its phosphorylation by GSK3b and members of the CK1 kinase family. By mutagenesis we have identified potential phosphorylation sites important for dMyc stability.
Regulation of Myc by Insulin and Nutrient-signaling GSK3 kinase is a downstream mediator of Insulin signaling. As a follow up of the previous project we have found that insulin enhances dMyc protein levels in vitro and in vivo. Moreover this regulation is dependent on the activation of TOR (target of Rapamycin) pathway indicating a link between the Nutrient signaling pathway (TOR) and activation of Myc by Insulin. We are currently analyzing the interrelationship between these signals with particular relevance to the Myc-TOR pathway.
In vivo studies of the regulation of growth and metabolism through dMyc and components of the Insulin and Nutrient-signaling pathways. As our studies reveal a regulation in vivo of Myc by the Insulin/TOR signaling cascade we analyze the contribution of Myc to metabolism and growth in vivo using larval feeding behavior as model system. We are currently expressing dMyc and components of the Insulin and Nutrient-signaling pathways in tissues relevant for metabolism such as the fat body, oenocytes and the brain, and we analyze the effect of their expression on the overall behavior of the animals at the larval and adult stages. We expect that this approach will lead to a suitable model to continue our study on the regulation of metabolism and growth.
Genetic epistasis of novel adaptor/components identified in a screen using the eye as a model for growth.