University of Pittsburgh Department of Cell Biology

  • Research

    We use genetic, cell biological and biochemical approaches in Drosophila to study the development of cell polarity. Cell polarity reflects the molecular, morphological and functional asymmetries of a cell. Pronounced cell polarity can be seen in virtually all eukaryote cells, and establishing proper cell polarity is essential for cellular morphogenesis, cell function and tissue integrity. In particular, epithelial cells develop so-called apical-basal polarity by partitioning the cell surface into distinct apical and basolateral domains through polarized formation of cell junctions. Establishing and maintaining apical-basal polarity is crucial for the function and structure of epithelia, while loss of such cell polarity often accompanies the malignant transformation of epithelial cells.

    In recent years, a small group of highly conserved "polarity proteins" have been identified for their essential roles in regulating the cell polarity in both vertebrates and invertebrates, and more than half of these polarity proteins were originally discovered in Drosophila. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying their polarity-regulating functions remain largely obscure. Drosophila epithelial cells provide an excellent model system for studying the apical-basal polarity development. Identifying potential interactions between polarity proteins and established cellular pathways such as vesicle trafficking may be crucial for us to understand how polarity proteins control the establishment and maintenance of epithelial polarity.

    We are also highly interested in developing efficient genetic tools that make it possible for us to dissect intricate protein interaction networks, such as polarity protein pathways, by rigorous genetic, cell biological and biochemical assays. Currently we are focusing on optimizing and further developing the ends-out gene targeting routine in Drosophila. We have made major progress to significantly increase the efficiency of ends-out gene targeting. We are using gene targeting as a major approach to generate directedly modified alleles of polarity protein genes in Drosophila.

  • Publications

    1. Zhou W, Huang J, Watson AM, and Hong Y. (2012) W::Neo: a novel dual-selection marker for high efficiency gene targeting in Drosophila. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31997.
    2. Zhou W and Hong Y. (2012) Drosophila Patj plays a supporting role in apical-basal polarity but is essential for viability. Development 139(2):2891-6
    3. Huang J, Huang L, Chen Y, Austin E, Devor C, Roegiers F, and Hong Y. (2011) Differential regulation of adherens junction dynamics during apical-basal polarization. J. Cell Sci. 124(23):4001-3
    4. Huang J, Ghosh P, Hatfull GF, and Hong Y. (2011) Successive and targeted DNA integrations in Drosophila genome by Bxb1 and phiC31 integrases. Genetics 189(1):391-5
    5. Robinson BS, Huang J, Hong Y, and Moberg KH (2010) The apical membrane determinant Crumbs acts via the FERM-domain protein Expanded to regulate SWH signaling in Drosophila. Curr. Biol. 20(7):582-90
    6. Ling C, Zheng Y, Ying F, Yu J, Huang J, Hong Y, Wu S, Pan DJ. (2010) The apical transmembrane protein Crumbs functions as a tumor suppressor that regulates Hippo signaling through Expanded. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 107(23):10532-7
    7. Huang J*, Zhou W*, Dong W, Watson AM, and Hong Y. (2009) Directed, efficient and versatile modifications of the Drosophila genome by genomic engineering. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 106(20):8284-8289. (*:equal contribution) - Download PDF
    8. Huang J, Zhou W, Dong W, and Hong Y. (2009) Targeted engineering of the Drosophila genome. FLY (Austin) 3(4):274-277
    9. Huang J*, Zhou W*, Watson AM, Jan YN, and Hong Y. (2008) Efficient ends-out gene targeting in Drosophila. Genetics 180(1): 703-707. (*: equal contribution) - Download PDF
    10. Hristova M, Birse D, Hong Y, and Ambros V. (2005) The C. elegans heterochronic regulator LIN-14 is a novel transcription factor that controls the developmental timing of transcription from the insulin/IGF gene ins-33 by direct DNA binding. Mol. Cell Biol. 25(24):11059-11072
    11. Hong Y, Ackerman L, Jan LY, and Jan YN. (2003) Distinct roles of Bazooka and Stardust in the specification of Drosophila photoreceptor membrane architecture. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 100(22):12712-12717
    12. Hong Y, Stronach B, Perrimon N, Jan LY, and Jan YN (2001) Drosophila Stardust interacts with Crumbs to control polarity of epithelia but not neuroblasts. Nature 414(6864):634-8
    13. Hong Y, Lee RC, and Ambros V. (2000) Structure and function analysis of LIN-14, a temporal regulator of postembryonic developmental events in C. elegans. Mol. Cell. Biol. 20(6):2285-95
    14. Hong Y*, Roy R*, and Ambros V. (1998) Developmental regulation of a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor controls postembryonic cell cycle progression in C. elegans. Development, 125(18): 3585-3597 (*: equal contribution)
    15. Hong Y., Lei H, Zhao YF, Han YM, and Shen TJ. (1994) Cloning, sequencing and expression of subtilisin Carlsberg gene from Baclillus licheniformins 2709. Chinese J. of Biotech. 10:24-33
    16. Hong Y. (1993) Construction of bacterial genomic DNA library using partial end-filling method. Prog. in Biochem. & Biophy. (Beijing, P.R.China) 20:205-210
    17. Lei H, Hong Y, and Shen TJ. (1993) PCR amplification and sequencing of the coding sequence of subtilisin Carlsberg from Baclillus licheniformins 2709. Chinese J. of Biochem. 9:411-418

     

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