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Cellular and Developmental signaling

Inter-organelle crosstalk  

Our lab seeks to decipher intercellular and inter-organelle communication that orchestrates metabolic homeostasis, which often depends on the developmental or physiological states of the cell. The ongoing experiments are designed to identify signaling networks influencing mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis to adopt various physiological, developmental or pathogenic conditions. We use a functional genomics approach combining unbiased genetic screens and genomics with molecular biology, biochemistry and imaging.

Human-Drosophila-Pipeline for discovering human genes linked to diseases

Using the fruit fly as a mode system, we want to identify disease-linked mutations and associated pathogenic mechanisms. Since most genes and biological pathways are conserved between flies and humans, the studies of disease-linked mutations in flies can provide significant insight into disease mechanisms. Besides, the fly model provides an unparalleled advantage of genetic manipulation to facilitate such investigations. Areas of our immediate interest are rare neurological, neurodegenerative and mitochondrial diseases. This work involves extensive collaboration with clinical geneticists.