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Seth Blair

Professor of Zoology

Address:

315 Zoology Research

Telephone:

262-1345

Email:

ssblair@wisc.edu

Research Fields:

Developmental Genetics

Drosophila

Research Interests

Developmental genetics of patterning and cell signaling in Drosophila

Research Description

Over the last decade we have learned a great deal about the processes that give rise to the various cell types of the adult wing of the fruitfly, allowing us to quickly link mutations that affect wing development to specific molecular processes. This, coupled with the unparalleled molecular and genetic tools available in Drosophila, make the wing a powerful system for isolating and analyzing novel genes. We have been using this system to identify new, critical regulators of developmental signaling pathways. We have two current areas of research. First, developmental signaling is often regulated, not by the localized expression of ligand or receptor, but by the expression of secreted ligand-binding modulators. Chordin is a famous vertebrate example that sequesters and inhibits BMP morphogens, helping ensure, amongst other things, that you have a nervous system. However, ligand-binding molecules can also stimulate signaling, and researchers are still trying to understand the mechanisms by which this happens. We have isolated several Drosophila proteins that increase the range and effectiveness of two critical developmental signals, the BMP and the Hedgehog family, and are examining their function using genetics and biochemical methods. Second, we have by examining a poorly understood signaling pathway by which two huge protocadherins, Fat and Dachsous regulates growth, proximo-distal patterning and planar cell polarity in the wing. We have recently shown that these proteins bind in a heterophilic fashion, quite unusual for cadherins, but can function without binding, indicative of functions independent of cell adhesion. We are extending this structure-function approach, and are isolated novel genes in the signaling pathway.

Representative Publications

• Matakatsu, H. and Blair, S.S. 2006. Separating the adhesive and signaling functions of the Fat and Dachsous protocadherins. Development. 133, 2315-2324.
• O’Connor, M.B., Umulis, D., Othmer, H. and Blair, S.S. 2006. Shaping BMP morphogen gradients in the Drosophila embryo and pupal wing. Development. 133: 183-193.
• Shimmi, O., Ralston, A., Blair, S.S., and O’Connor, M.B. 2005. The crossveinless gene encodes a new member of the Twisted gastrulation family of BMP binding proteins which, with Short gastrulation, promotes BMP signaling in the crossveins of the Drosophila wing. Dev. Biol. 282: 70-83.
• Glise, B., Miller, C.A., Crozatzier, M., Halbisen, M.A., Wise, S., Olson, D., Vincent, A., and Blair, S.S. 2005. Shifted, the Drosophila orthologue of Wnt Inhibitory Factor-1, controls the distribution and movement of Hedgehog. Dev. Cell. 8: 255-266.
• Matakatsu, H. and Blair, S.S. 2004. Interactions between Fat and Dachsous and the regulation of planar cell polarity in the Drosophila wing. Development. 131: 3785-3794.