Lila Solnica-Krezel Lab

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


Welcome to Blerta Stringa, Ph.D., Postdoc Dr. Blerta Stringa joined the Solnica-Krezel lab in October as a postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Stringa’s research will involve the interrogation of the function of zebrafish genes that we have recently identified by mapping several maternal effect mutant loci associated with developmental arrests at early gastrulation and segmentation stages. Read More >>	New Publication Postembryonic screen for mutations affecting spine development in zebrafish. Gray RS, Gonzalez R, Ackerman S, Minowa R, Griest J, Bayrak M, Troutwine B, Canter S, Monk K, Sepich D, and Solnica-Krezel L. Dev biol. 2020 Dec 5;471:18-33. Read More >>	Congratulations to Dr. Kyaw Thu Minn! Dr. Kyaw Thu Minn defended his thesis in fine style in October and will be starting in a consulting role at Charles River Associates. Congratulations, Minn! Read More >>


New Publication High-resolution transcriptional and morphogenetic profiling of cells from micropatterned human ESC gastruloid cultures. Minn KT, Fu YC, He S, Dietmann S, George S, Anastasio M, Morris, SA, and Solnica-Krezel L. Elife. 2020 Nov. 9:e59445. Read More >>	Congratulations to the newly minted Dr. Castelvecchi! Dr. Gina Castelvecchi defended her thesis on July 27, 2020, and will be starting a technology transfer fellowship through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research with the Department of Defense in Washington DC. Congrats, Gina! Read More >>	New Publication Nodal and planar cell polarity signaling cooperate to regulate zebrafish convergence and extension gastrulation movements. Williams, MLK and Solnica-Krezel L. Elife.2020 Apr 22;9:e54445. Read More >>


Congratulations to Lila Solnica-Krezel! Lila has been elected to the International Zebrafish Society Board of Directors as President-Elect. Read More >>	New Publication Gon4l/Udu regulates cardiomyocyte proliferation and maintenance of ventricular chamber identity during zebrafish development. Budine, T., deSena-Tomas, C., Williams, MLK., Sepich, D., Targoff, K., Solnica-Krezel, L. Dev Biol. 2020 Jun 15;462(2):223-234. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.03.002. Epub 2020 Apr 6. Read More >>	Congratulations to Lila Solnica-Krezel! Lila received the Nusslein-Volhard Award at the 2019 International Zebrafish Society meeting. The Nusslein-Volhard Award is from the European Society for Fish Models in Biology and Medicine (EuFishBioMed). Read More >>