Rotation students

A number of rotation projects are available to students with interests in developmental biology, neuroscience and molecular/cell biology. These change as our research progresses, but some representative examples are listed below. Please feel free to phone, email or stop by the lab to learn more.

Regulation of ray development: We have identified a number of candidate genes that may be involved in the cell-fate specification of C.elegans neural precursors. Studying these genes would involve constructing GFP reporter genes, determining gene expression patterns in transgenic animals and/or analysis of mutant and/or RNAi phenotypes.

Transcriptional control of neuronal subtype: We have found several small transcriptional enhancers that specifically drive gene expression in the RnB-class neurons of the C. elegans male tail. Understanding how these enhancers function will involve identifying the minimal sequence requirements for the activity of each, and identifing trans-acting transcription factors that act through these elements.

Molecular mechanisms of sensory behavior: The rays of the C. elegans male tail are required for the response of males to contact with a hermaphrodite. This sensory function is mediated through proteins called polycystins, which are thought to act as mechanosensory receptor-channel complexes in the plasma membrane. Interestingly, the lack of polycystin function in humans leads to polycystic kidney disease. We have found five novel proteins whose cellular expression and sub-cellular localization strongly suggest a role in the polycystin sensory pathway. Studying these factors will involve behavioral analysis of mutant and/or RNAi-treated nematodes and molecular analysis of the polycystin complex.