The Ashe lab

We have used different MiMIC stocks to show how this approach can be used to visualise transcription of different genes in tissues including the embryo, larval wing disc, brain and ovary. Here the movie shows Daughters against dpp (Dad) transcription in follicle cells:

Looking for a quick way to endogenously tag genes in Drosophila to live image transcription? Then check out our paper in @Dev_journal for simply and rapidly inserting MS2/PP7 cassettes into any of the thousands of genes carrying a MiMIC insertion. tinyurl.com/4rpvst9c 🪰

The second is investigating the mechanism of cell signalling by cytonemes in Drosophila ovarian germline stem cells: shorturl.at/5csIK Deadline 31/01/25 🧫 (2/2)

TWO fully-funded PhD studentships available in the lab! Please RT and share 🧬 The first investigates the role of cytoplasmic P-bodies in the robustness of embryonic development: shorturl.at/j6ck0 Deadline 10/01/25 🪰 (1/2)

Finally, we find that a protostome-specific C-terminal Tsg tail is likely to be an intrinsically disordered region and is essential to full Tsg action in regulating dorsoventral patterning in the Drosophila embryo.

Based on these findings we propose an avidity-driven mechanism of extracellular BMP control by Tsg. By binding BMP via its N-terminal domain, and Sog via its C-terminal domain, interaction at one site could then make other interactions more likely through cooperative binding.

Excited to share our latest findings on the extracellular regulation of BMP signalling by Twisted gastrulation! We identify how Tsg binds the Chordin family of BMP antagonists, leading us to propose an avidity-driven mechanism of BMP signalling control. shorturl.at/VhndP

Thank you to everyone who supported our Christmas collection again this year, all the goodies have been dropped off with the wonderful folk at @EmmelinesNew 🎁 for any last minute donations please see their Amazon wishlist: shorturl.at/dnN7O 🎄@MCF_UoM 🎄@FBMH_DocAcad

In this work, we show that differentiating germ cell cysts extend cytonemes to reactivate BMP signalling, recolonise an empty niche and dedifferentiate to germline stem cells.

Excited to share our latest preprint in collaboration with @WilcocksonScott, which describes the mechanism of germ cell dedifferentiation in the Drosophila ovary: biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

*Diwali!

Fabulous Divali celebrations again this year in the lab. Thank you @Nabarundevbio for spoiling us 🪔

It’s that time of year! 🎅🏼 We are collecting donations again for the wonderful @EmmelinesNew throughout November. See our flyer below for details of required items and where to bring them 🎁 @MCF_UoM @FBMH_UoM

Are you interested in exploring the interplay between dynamic protein expression and cell division, and how they impact fate decisions in neural development? We are looking for a PhD student to combine live imaging, optogenetics and data modelling. @BigaVeronica @TheAsheLab

📢We are recruiting! Fully funded Postdoctoral position to work on enhancer-promoter interactions in the Drosophila embryo in collaboration with @drosoigmm @IGFLyon @ENSdeLyon #drosophila #3Dgenome #enhancer #transcription

A great few days with @yad_ghavi lab on our joint retreat in Lyon brainstorming and hiking in the countryside. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality and organisation! Of course Colin joined us on our train journey in line with our commitment to sustainability and cake! 🍃