The molecular foundations of early animal evolution
How were cells first organized into simple epithelial tissues? How did specialized cell/tissue types originate? We address these broad questions through the study of cell and developmental biology in sponges. Sponges are hundreds of millions of years divergent from other animals, and they lack key animal traits such as muscles, neurons and a gut. Current projects in the lab include:
1) cell adhesion and the evolution of epithelial organization
2) cellular mechanisms of sponge-microbe interactions
The guiding principle in our lab is that curiosity-driven research is key to innovation and discovery. Students and post-docs are encouraged to develop original projects and follow the data where they lead.
Cell adhesion and the evolution of epithelia
Whole adult sponges can be completely dissociated and - unlike most animals - their cells will re-aggregate to form a new, functional organism. This phenomenon was first described more than 100 years ago, launching sponges as an early model for studying cell adhesion and self-recognition. The consensus from decades of research on this topic is that sponge cell adhesion is mediated through a secreted proteoglycan complex termed the ‘Aggregation Factor.’ This stands in contrast to studies of cell adhesion in other animals, whose tissues contain adherens junctions (AJs) for cell-cell adhesion and focal adhesions (FAs) for cell-ECM adhesion. However, we have detected conserved homologs of AJ and FA proteins in sponges and our current work seeks to test their function and reconcile their possible adhesion roles with the ‘Aggregation Factor’ model of sponge cell adhesion.
Cellular mechanisms of sponge-microbe interactions
Sponges are host to complex microbial communities of both ecological and biomedical significance – they may help enable the uptake of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and they produce complex secondary metabolites that serve as anti-predatory defenses, and which often have pharmacological applications. Sponges must distinguish between bacterial prey (they are bacterivorous), symbionts, and pathogens. There is limited understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of these interactions at the cellular level. We have established a sponge infection model to begin to interrogate these questions.
How were cells first organized into simple epithelial tissues? How did specialized cell/tissue types originate? We address these broad questions through the study of cell and developmental biology in sponges. Sponges are hundreds of millions of years divergent from other animals, and they lack key animal traits such as muscles, neurons and a gut. Current projects in the lab include:
1) cell adhesion and the evolution of epithelial organization
2) cellular mechanisms of sponge-microbe interactions
The guiding principle in our lab is that curiosity-driven research is key to innovation and discovery. Students and post-docs are encouraged to develop original projects and follow the data where they lead.
Cell adhesion and the evolution of epithelia
Whole adult sponges can be completely dissociated and - unlike most animals - their cells will re-aggregate to form a new, functional organism. This phenomenon was first described more than 100 years ago, launching sponges as an early model for studying cell adhesion and self-recognition. The consensus from decades of research on this topic is that sponge cell adhesion is mediated through a secreted proteoglycan complex termed the ‘Aggregation Factor.’ This stands in contrast to studies of cell adhesion in other animals, whose tissues contain adherens junctions (AJs) for cell-cell adhesion and focal adhesions (FAs) for cell-ECM adhesion. However, we have detected conserved homologs of AJ and FA proteins in sponges and our current work seeks to test their function and reconcile their possible adhesion roles with the ‘Aggregation Factor’ model of sponge cell adhesion.
Cellular mechanisms of sponge-microbe interactions
Sponges are host to complex microbial communities of both ecological and biomedical significance – they may help enable the uptake of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and they produce complex secondary metabolites that serve as anti-predatory defenses, and which often have pharmacological applications. Sponges must distinguish between bacterial prey (they are bacterivorous), symbionts, and pathogens. There is limited understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of these interactions at the cellular level. We have established a sponge infection model to begin to interrogate these questions.