We are investigating the cellular and molecular genetic mechanisms underlying vertebrate gastrulation, a crucial period of embryogenesis during which the germ layers are formed and then shaped into the vertebrate body plan with organ rudiments. During gastrulation, a series of inductive events that specify cell identities and massive cell movements fashion the body plan. The complex and dynamic nature of gastrulation makes it a challenging but intellectually fascinating object of study. In humans, 25-50% of pregnancies end in early miscarriages of largely unknown genetic origin. Moreover, the molecular regulation of tumor growth and metastasis show striking parallels to those underlying gastrulation movements, underscoring the practical significance of gastrulation research.
We are addressing the mechanisms of gastrulation in the zebrafish (Danio rerio), a system that affords a powerful combination of forward and reverse genetic analyses with embryological, cellular and molecular methods and also in human embryonic stem cells. We are also employing embryonic stem cells and tumor cell lines to test whether the new genes and mechanisms we implicate in zebrafish gastrulation are also involved in human development and disease. Our current experiments are focused on the roles of the Wnt, Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity, Stat3 and G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathways and epigenetic factors in the regulation of embryonic polarity and gastrulation movements.
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Recent News
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Lilianna Solnica-Krezel, PhD, received a five-year competitive renewal from the National Institute of Health’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, beginning June 15, 2022, for her project entitled “Forward and reverse genetic studies of AIS and spine development in zebrafish.” This project is part of a program project grant with Dr. Carol Wise through UT Southwestern. Read More >> |
Welcome to Sarah Stamp, Postbaccalaureate ResearcherSarah Stamp joined the Solnica-Krezel lab in August 2022 as a postbaccalaureate researcher.
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New PublicationCARMIL3 is important for cell migration and morphogenesis during early development in zebrafish. Stark BC, Gao Y, Sepich DS, Belk L, Culver MA, Hu B, Mekel M, Ferris W, Shin J, Solnica-Krezel L, Lin F, Cooper JA. Dev Biol. 2022 Jan;481:148-159. Read More >> |
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New PublicationThe zebrafish issue: 25 years on. Mullins MC, Navajas Acedo J, Priya R, Solnica-Krezel L, Wilson SW. Development. 2021 Dec 15;148(24).
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Dr. Lilianna Solnica-Krezel (PI) and Luis Batista, Ph.D. (Co-I), have received a one-year grant award from the Undiagnosed Disease Network for their project entitled “Using zebrafish as an animal model and human pluripotent stem cells to evaluate pathogenicity and define disease mechanisms for an ENY2 variant found in UDN544529”. Read More >> |
Lila Solnica-Krezel, Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor of Developmental Biology and Head, received the 2021 Carl and Gerty Cori Faculty Achievement Award.
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New Publication20 years of Developmental Cell: Looking back. Chory J, Olson EN, Solnica-Krezel L, Munro S, Fuchs E, St Johnston D, Lefebvre V, Coupland G, Millar Se, Lin H. Dev Cell. 2021 Dec 6;56(23):3181-3184.
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Dr. Lilianna Solnica-Krezel has received a competitive renewal for a five-year Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences starting May 1, 2021, for her project entitled, “Inductive and morphogenetic processes shaping the zebrafish embryonic axes. “ Read More >> |
New PublicationMYH3-associated distal arthrogryposis zebrafish model is normalized with para-aminoblebbistatin. Whittle J, Antunes L, Harris M, Upshaw Z, Sepich DS, Johnson AN, Mokalled M, Solnica-Krezel L, Dobbs MB, Gurnett CA. EMBO Mol Med. 2020 Nov 6;12(11):e12356. Read More >> |
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