Aditya Saxena

My main area of research is the study of the first morphogenetic movements of the four Malpighian tubules out of the hindgut. Each of the 4 tubules bud out in stereotypical time and position. Previously, the lab has shown that this event requires both Wg and Dpp signalling, as well as the activity of the early tubule transcription factors Kruppel and Cut (Hatton-Ellis et al., 2007).

In extending these studies, I am adopting a variety of approaches, including live imaging techniques, using specialist GFP tools, which will allow me to analyse changes in Malpighian tubule cell and primordium architecture. I am also interested in uncovering the targets of Kruppel and Cut activity in the development of this tissue and hope to refine insight into the orchestration of a fundamental morphogenetic process in this model tissue.

Day, J. P., Wan, S., Allan, A. K., Kean, L., Davies, S. A., Gray, J. and Dow, J. (2008) Identification of two partners from the bacterial Kef exchanger family for the apical plasma membrane V-ATPase of Metazoa. (2008) J. Cell Science 121 2612-2619.

Hatton-Ellis, E., Ainsworth, A., Sushama, Y., Wan, S., VijayRaghavan, K. and Skaer, H. (2007) Genetic regulation of patterned tubular branching in Drosophila. PNAS 104:169-174

Sudarsan, V., Pasalodos-Sanchez, S., Wan, S., Gampel, A. and Skaer, H.  (2002) A genetic hierarchy establishes mitogenic signalling and mitotic competence in the renal tubules of Drosophila. Development. 129: 935-944.

Ainsworth, C., Wan, S. & Skaer, H. (2000) Coordinating cell fate and morphogenesis in Drosophila renal tubules. Phil Trans Roy Soc (series B) 355: 931 – 937.

Wan, S., Cato, A-M. and Skaer, H. (2000) Multiple signaling pathways establish cell fate and number in Drosophila Malpighian tubules. Dev. Biol. 217: 153-165.