Drosophila Genomics

Research interests

The main focus of my lab is exploring aspects of transcriptional regulation and chromatin architecture at a genome wide scale in Drosophila. We are based in the Genetics Department and in the Cambridge Systems Biology Centre.

We have a long-standing interest in the biology of Sox domain transcription factors in the fly, using classical genetics and developmental biology approaches to understand the biological function of Sox factors in CNS and gonad development (Dichaete, SoxN & Sox100B) along with genomics techniques such as expression profiling and ChIP-array to understand how they control regulatory circuits. We are also investigating aspects of transcriptional processes underpinning sperm development and other sexually dimorphic processes, regulatory circuits controlled by Hox proteins and, in a collaboration led by Sarah Bray (PDN), the genomic response to Notch signalling.

Understanding genome architecture is an important aspect of how the genome responds to developmental or environmental signals. In collaboration with Rob White (PDN) and also via a modENCODE project led by Kevin White (Chicago) we are exploring the way that Insulator and Silencer complexes regulate gene expression. Along with chromatin architecture, the organisation of genes into expression neighbourhoods or domains is thought to be important for coordinating gene expression. We are using DrosDel technologies to engineer chromosomes in vivo to assess how chromosomal rearrangements affect aspects of gene expression.

I have always been committed to the provision of community resources for the fly community and have contributed to several resource projects including DrosDel, FlyChip and modENCODE. Currently, we are involved in a UK project with Daniel St Johnston (PI, Gurdon) and Kathryn Lilley (CSBC) to generate new protein trap lines as in vivo proteomics resources for Drosophila - see www.flyprot.org. Finally, Drosophila is a useful model for investigating insect disease vectors and we are part of a Grand Challenges in Global Health programme headed by Austin Burt (Imperial College) to develop novel methods of controlling the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.

4 key publications

1. Meadows LA, Chan YS, Roote J, Russell S. (2010) Neighbourhood continuity is not required for correct testis gene expression in Drosophila. PLoS Biology 8:e1000552. (Editors Pick of the week: PLoS Biol 8:e1001002)
2. Nègre N, Brown CD, Shah PK, Kheradpour P, Morrison CA, Henikoff JG, Feng X, Ahmad K, Russell S, White RAH, Stein L, Henikoff S, Kellis M and KP White (2010) A comprehensive map of insulator elements for the Drosophila genome. PLoS Genet. 6: e1000814
3. Nanda, S., Defalco, T.J., Hui Yong Loh, S., Phochanukul, N., Camara, N., Van Doren, M. and Russell, S. (2009) Sox100B, a Drosophila group E Sox-domain gene, is required for somatic testis differentiation. Sexual Dev. 3: 26-37
4. Baker, D.A. and Russell, S. (2009) Gene expression during Drosophila melanogaster egg development. BMC Genomics 10: 242 (Highly Accessed)

Page updated 2 August 2011