Analysis of the role of the jing zinc finger in tyrosine kinase pathways in the Drosophila trachea

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The formation of tubular organs is a major event in animal development.  Studying the formation of the respiratory organ (trachea) in fruit fly embryos has provided invaluable information about cell migration, changes in cell shape and tubular structures.  All these processes contribute to the formation of tubes that allow airflow and gas exchange with tissues throughout the embryo.  The pattern of this branched structure is genetically hardwired and the genes involved in its many stages of development can be easily studied and manipulated using the fruit fly model system. My laboratory has shown that to the jing gene is a key regulator of embryonic tracheal branching.  The growth factors regulated by Jing control cellular migration, invasion and tubule formation.  They also induce angiogenesis which plays a key role in early metastasis in cancer.  We will determine how Jing controls growth factors using genetics, cell biology and biochemical approaches.  The jing gene product is responsible for activating other genes during tracheal development.  When jing is mutated, tracheal cells do not produce proper amounts of growth factors and cells do not move properly to make the branches.  We will determine which genes control the expression of jing at different times of development using clues from sites in its promoter.  We will also determine how jing controls growth factor levels using biochemical and genetic approaches.  It is anticipated that these studies will reveal new molecular mechanisms controlling cell migration in vascular structures such as the human lungs and cancerous tumours.