BDRC SEMINAR SERIES
Professor Franck Pichaud
MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, UCL
Friday 27th November, 1pm
Leolin Price Lecture Theatre, ICH
Epithelial Cell Polarity in Drosophila
Abstract
The central aim of my group is to characterise the genetic, cellular and molecular basis of cell
polarity and morphogenesis during development. Polarity underpins the function of many cell
types, developmental processes and organs. The polarized specialization of the cell cortex
and plasma membrane enables epithelial cells sheet formation during organogenesis, neural
circuit formation, asymmetric cell division as well as directed cell migration. Elucidating how
cell polarity arises and can be remodeled during development to shape organs constitutes a
major step toward understanding organogenesis, but also a wide range of congenital disorders
and pathologies such as cancer and neurodevelopmental conditions. I will discuss our work
on how epithelial cells and neurons polarise their cortex and generate specialised membrane
domains, such as Adherens Jucntions in epithelial cells and an axon in neurons.