In our lab, we are interested in identifying how cells in a multicellular organism interpret signals and make decisions, and how the decision-making process adheres to known engineering principles. The ultimate goal is to translate our knowledge to applications such as medicine, stem cell biology, and tissue engineering. Find out more…
Recent and Important News
Sadia Dima joins the lab!
Earlier this month, first-year Ph.D. student Sadia Siddika Dima joined the lab. She will be working on global measurements of the Dorsal gradient in live embryos. She will be focusing on measuring the Dorsal gradient in mutant embryos in particular. Welcome Sadia!
GSA spotlight on Ph.D. student Elle Rooney!
Last month, an interview with Ph.D. student Lossie (Elle) Rooney was posted to “Genes to Genomes,” a blog maintained by the Genetics Society of America (GSA). This blog post is part of a series in which they spotlight members of GSA’s Early Career Leadership Committees. Read the blog here. Great work Elle!
Two students join the lab!
Last week, first-year Chemical Engineering Ph.D. students Hung-Yuan (Zeke) Chen and Razeen Shaikh joined the lab. They will be working on experimental and modeling approaches to studying the BMP pathway. Welcome Zeke and Razeen!
Collaboration project awarded T3 funding
A recently-established collaboration with Dr. James Erickson and Dr. Aref Zarin (both in the Biology department) has been selected for funding through the T3 mechanism! The collaborative project, titled “Transvection As A General Means To Synchronize Gene Expression,” focuses on regulation of a gene called Sex lethal (Sxl), which determines whether a developing Drosophila embryo becomes male or female. As a means of regulation of Sxl (or any other gene), transvection is when DNA from one chromosome activates DNA on the paired chromosome. This project will investigate novel aspects of transvection.
Collaboration project with NCSU investigators awarded RISF funding
Reeves Lab collaborators at NC State University — Julio Belmonte (Physics), Mary Elting (Physics), and Caroline Laplante (Molc. Cellular Biosci) — have been awarded funding through NC State’s “Research Innovation and Seed Funding” program. The collaborative project focuses on the dynamics of cellular membrane tension in the 3 hr old Drosophila embryo. The funding will provide continued support for our co-advised postdoc Sophia Webster. Congratulations Julio, Mary, and Caroline!
Paper published on embryo penetrating peptides
The Rao and Menegatti labs (CBE, NCSU), in a collaboration between the Reeves lab, have published a paper in Bioconjugate Chemistry. In this work, Dr. John Bowen screened for membrane penetrating peptides using Drosophila embryos. After selecting the best-performing peptide, he showed that it can penetrate not only Drosophila embryos, but also human stem cells. Dr. John Bowen is a recent Ph.D. graduate from the CBE department at NCSU, co-advised by Drs. Rao and Menegatti. The Reeves lab lent expertise in Drosophila biology. Allison Schloop from the Reeves lab was co-author. Congratulations John and Allison! Read more here.
Reeves lab moves to Texas A&M University!
Even during the pandemic of 2020, there can be some good news! We are pleased to announce that the Reeves Lab has moved to Texas A&M in College Station, TX. We have joined the Chemical Engineering Department, and are also part of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics. Texas A&M is a fantastic university with the largest student population in the country. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Dynamics of BMP signaling. Note the broad, weak signal early, that refines into a narrow, intense signal by the end.