Research My research interests are in the area of gene regulation during embryonic development. I am studying the signal transduction pathway initiated by member of the TGF-ß superfamily Dpp in Drosophila melanogaster. Early in the development it acts as a morphogen similarly to activins and BMPs in vertebrate embryos. It controls the cell fates along the dorsal-ventral axis of the embryo and anterior-posterior patterning of the adult appendages in a concentration dependent manner by eliciting differential transcriptional response from its target genes. Using molecular, biochemical and genetic analysis I am currently studying the promoter elements of Dpp terget genes and searching for coactivators and corepressors involved in their regulation. We are also investigating the mechanism of negative regulation of Dpp target genes by the gene brinker with a goal to uncover the general principles governing gene response to the embryonic morphogens. Teaching I teach Molecular Biology Lab I and II graduate courses. These are experimental
classes, which cover a broad array of molecular biology techniques. Biosketch
Ph.D. 1985 (Molecular Biology), Institute of Molecular Biology, Sofia, Bulgaria; M.S. 1979 (Biochemistry), Kharkov University, Ukraine. Fellowship at Medical Nobel Institute, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Fellowship at Roche Institute of Molecular Biology Affiliations: American Association for Advancement of Science Areas of Research/Interest Gene function and mechanisms of gene regulation during Drosophila development. External Affiliations American Association for Advancement of Science. Fellowships/Honors Fellowship at Medical Nobel Institute, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Fellowship at Roche Institute of Molecular Biology.
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