Genes that control epithelial growth and morphogenesis play an important role in normal development and disease. For example, an epithelial- mesenchymal transition (EMT) allows a polarized epithelial cell to undergo biochemical changes that allow it to assume a mesenchymal phenotype. EMT occurs during normal development and during tumor progression. We aim to understand the signaling machinery within the epithelial cells that coordinates polarity through studying the function of certain genes involved in epithelial growth and polarity in normal and disease conditions.
We are also interested in dissecting the mechanisms regulating the regenerative capacity of adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells in different tissues of the adult body and are crucial for repairing the damaged tissue. However, the mechanisms that regulate the quiescence, response to injury, proliferation initiation is poorly understood, and they have not been successfully utilized in regenerative therapy compared to embryonic stem cells. Adult muscle stem cells in Drosophila display similar properties in maintaining quiescence and regeneration of the muscles during metamorphosis. We aim to study the molecular mechanisms governing these processes and get the broader insights in understanding the conditions that regulate the proliferation of muscle stem cells during tissue repair. This would greatly enhance the approaches that we could use to treat the various muscular degenerative diseases in humans. The data obtained from the Drosophila studies will be extended to the stem cell derived in vitro skeletal muscle system, degenerative muscular disease patient samples and mouse models
Developmental Biology
School of Biotechnology
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus, Clappana P.O.
Kollam – 690525, Kerala, India
