Research in my lab is directed towards understanding the cell and molecular mechanisms that pattern and specify the identity of cells during embryonic tissue development. We are particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms of morphogen trafficking that lead to the activation of the Hh, Wnt/Wg, and TGF-b/Dpp pathways. We utilize a variety of approaches from biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, and bioinformatics.

We have also recently started a large comparative genomic analysis of the Hedgehog signaling pathway. These computational methods are enabling us to characterize and model the pathway in over 100+ organisms.

 

Recent Publications

Hsiung, F., Ramirez-Weber, F.A., Iwaki,D.D., Kornberg,T.B. (2005) Dependence of Drosophila wing imaginal disc cytonemes on Decapentaplegic. Nature 437:560-563.

D. Petkovic, E. Lank, F. A. Ramirez-Weber, S. Raghavendra, F. Chen, S. Pathuri, C. Pekiner, J. Fergoso, A. Hsieh, A. Marquez. (2005) Asynchronous Multimedia Annotations for Web-Base Collaboration in Biology Education. Proc. SPIE 5682:108-113, IN Storage and Retrieval Methods and Applications for Multimedia 2005; Rainer W. Lienhart, Noboru Babaguchi, Edward Y. Chang; Eds

E. Lank, Dragutin Petkovic, F. A. Ramirez-Weber, J. Hafernik, J. Hsieh, J. Maag, S. Pathuri, C. Pekiner, S. Raghavendra (2004) BioMedia: multimedia information systems for biology research, education, and collaboration. Proc. SPIE 5307:351-359, IN Storage and Retrieval Methods and Applications for Multimedia 2004; Minerva M. Yeung, Rainer W. Lienhart, Chung-Sheng Li; Eds.