Martinez-Arias Lab
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge
Nicole Gorfinkiel
Postdoc
ng288@cam.ac.ukDepartment of Genetics,
Downing Street, Cambridge
CB2 3EH,England
Telephone: +44 1223 766595
Fax: +44 1223 333992
I joined Alfonso's lab in June 2004 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. I am interested in how cells generate the mechanical forces that drive morphogenesis. As a biologist, I want to know the cellular processes that generate and control these forces and the molecules involved. During morphogenesis, the regulation of adhesive contacts between cells is a key element that allows cell shape changes, cell rearrangements and cell migration.
In the last two years I have been working in the role of cell-cell adhesion during DC with an emphasis in the dynamics of the process, using a combination of classical genetics, in vivo imaging and, automated tracking of cells and their subsequent analysis (in collaboration with G. Blanchard and R. Adams from the Department of Anatomy). Regulated cell adhesion is required for proper AS contraction, for the integrity of the AS/epidermis interface and, for the generation of the normal dorsal pattern (movies 1 and 2). We have found that cellular junctions need to be dynamic for DC to progress normally probably because of a constant remodelling both at the interface between epidermis and AS and between AS cells (movies 3). My goal is to analyze more in detail the dynamics and regulation of adherens junctions during DC as well as analyzing other adhesion systems that might be involved in maintaining tissue coherence and the linkage to the cytoskeleton.
Movie 1
Note: The movie files are large (~10MB each). You may need to wait for them to download.
Wt embryo during DC. The outlines of the cells are marked with CadherinGFP. The AS cells contract in a stereotypical pattern and the epidermal cells elongate in the dorso-ventral axis until they meet at the dorsal midline. These two processes need to be coordinated for DC to procede.
Movie 2
In a shotgun background (shotgun encodes DE-Cadherin), AS does not contract properly and AS cells detach from the epidermis. The embryo cannot go through the convergence stage. In this embryo, AS cells are labelled with SrcGFP, another adherens junction associated protein
Movie 3
In another mutant background for another allele of DE-Cadherin, embryos can reach the zippering stage although closure is not perfect. Embryos are labelled with ActinGFP expressed under the control of the engrailed promotor.
My Selected publications
Gorfinkiel, N., Morata, G. and Guerrero, I. 1997.
The homeobox gene Distal-less induces ventral appendage development in Drosophila.
Genes & Development
Gorfinkiel, N., Sánchez, L. and Guerrero, I. 1999.
Drosophila terminalia as an appendage-like structure.
Mechanisms of Development
Esperón, P., Gorfinkiel, N., Garat, B. and Ehrlich, R. 2000.
Characterisation of the proximal regulatory domain of the Echinococcus granulosus homeodomain-containing gene EgHbx1.
International Journal of Parasitology
Sánchez, L., Gorfinkiel, N. and Guerrero, I. 2001.
Sex determination genes control the development of the Drosophila genital disc modulating the response to Hedgehog, Wingless and Decapentaplegic signals.
Development
Gorfinkiel, N., Sánchez, L. and Guerrero, I. 2003.
Development of the Drosophila genital disc requires interactions between its segmental primordia.
Development
Gorfinkiel, N., Fanti, L., Melgar, T., García, E., Pimpinelli, S., Guerrero, I. and Vidal, M. 2004.
The Drosophila Polycomb group gene Sex combs extra encodes the ortholog of mammalian Ring1 proteins.
Mechanisms of Development
Torroja, C., Gorfinkiel, N. and Guerrero, I. 2005.
Patched controls the Hedgehog gradient by endocytosis in a dynamin-dependent manner, but this internalization is not absolutely required for signal transduction.
Development
Gorfinkiel, N., Sierra. J., Callejo, A., Ibáñez, C. And Guerrero, I. 2005.
The Drosophila Ortholog of the Human Wnt Inhibitor Factor Shifted Controls the Diffusion of Lipid-Modified Hedgehog.
Developmental Cell