Our aim is to understand how the function of genomes relates to the function of biological systems from the cellular to the evolutionary level. Our multidisciplinary research utilizes genomic, molecular genetic and cell biological techniques to probe important developmental, cell biological and evolutionary questions. Several of our laboratories belong to the ARC Special Research Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development (CMGD) and we collaborate with the Centre for Bioinformation Science (CbiS) on bioinformatics aspects of our work.

Current Research

Developmental Genetics and Cell Biology Lab - Prof Robert Saint

We are investigating cell division and embryonic development in the versatile model organism, Drosophila melanogaster. We study the dynamic behaviour of the cytoskeleton during cell division, in particular, the role of Rho family small G proteins and their regulators in these events. We use a range of approaches including genetic analysis, functional genomics, cell biology and molecular biology.

OzDros – The Australian Drosophila Biomedical Research Support Facility - Dr Narelle Tunstall

The OzDros Facility is supported by an NH&MRC Enabling grant and aims to provide efficient, low cost support for Drosophila-based biomedical research. Primarily OzDros will act as a national stock centre to maintain and distribute a core set of genetically defined commonly used stocks. OzDros also; maintains and distributes collections of EST clone libraries; will hold a national record of stocks held within Australian laboratories; will provide a micro-injection service to generate custom transgenic Drosophila stocks; act as a point for non-Drosophila researchers to find information about Drosophila; and coordinate and streamline importation of the thousands of genetically defined stocks of Drosophila that are brought into Australia each year.

For further information go to www.ozdros.com

Early Mammalian Development Lab - Dr Ruth Arkell

Research within this programme is focused on the identification and characterisation of genes that are required for mammalian embryonic development.  Because adult form and function is dependent upon the events of embryogenesis this research is relevant to a wide variety of malformations and diseases.  The in utero development of the mammalian embryo precludes the detailed study of embryogenesis in humans, making the recovery of mouse models for congenital defects essential for progress in understanding congenital anomaly syndromes.

Comparative Molecular Development Lab - Dr. Eldon Ball, Dr. David Hayward

We study the molecular control of embryonic development in corals and how the genes that control this development have evolved in structure and function.  Other interests include comparative genomics, particularly of the lower Metazoa, and stress responses in corals.  A recent major emphasis is the use of microarray technology to study the molecular bases of coral stress responses.

Mammalian Molecular Genetics and Evolution Lab - Dr Hugh Campbell

We study homologues of developmental and brain genes first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster. We aim to identify and clone mammalian homologues of genes and uncover their roles using techniques such as gene targeting and transgenics.

From Molecules to Memory - Dr Ryszard Maleszka

Our broadly defined goal is to understand how gene function translates to behaviour.  We are taking advantage of easily manageable adult development and high mnemonic fidelity of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) to unravel molecular changes occurring in the brain during behavioural maturation, learning and memory formation.  Using genome-based strategies we have identified a collection of transcripts, whose expression is modulated by training or behavioural transition, determined their primary structures and assigned functional significance.

Visiting Fellows

Yeast Molecular Genetics - Prof G Desmond Clark-Walker

Please note: Prof. Clark-Walker retired in 2006 and is no longer taking students.

We are investigating the interaction between the nuclear and mitochondrial genome. The organisms best suited to these investigations are yeasts because of their well understood genetics and biochemistry. We can use these model organisms to identify genes involved in mitochondrial replication and maintenance and better understand human mitochondrial disease.

Molecular and Population Genetics - Prof John Gibson

We are studying the evolution of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase transcription in insects, particularly Drosophila. We are also interested in the molecular basis of transvection at the Gpdh locus and ethanol tolerance in Drosophila

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People and Contacts

Name	Role	Phone	Email
Blakeman, Harley	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 3093
Fraval, Hamilton	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538
Gibson, Philippa		+61 2 6125 6285
Helliwell, Paul	Technical Officer	041 6249 041
Kearney, Kate	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538
Lopez-Marambio, Francisco
Lorensuhewa, Nirmal	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538
Lumb, Cassis	Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 1089
Maleszka, Ryszard	Senior Fellow	+61 2 6125 0451
Manhire-Heath, Rosemary	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538
Pert, Melissa		+61 2 6125 4538
Roy, Shabri
Tunstall, Narelle	Manager	+61 2 6125 1089
Wang, Jianbin	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538

Comparative Molecular Development Lab

Name	Role	Phone	Email
Ball, Eldon	Senior Fellow	+61 2 6125 4496
Grasso, Lauretta	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4423
Hayward, David	Research Fellow	+61 2 6125 4839

Developmental Genetics and Cell Biology Lab

Name	Role	Phone	Email
Athanasopoulos, Vicki	Senior Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 4538
Kearney, Kate	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538
Liu, Wenjie	Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 3093
Lorensuhewa, Nirmal	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538
Murray, Michael	Postdoctoral Fellow	+61 2 6125 0319
Saint, Robert	Professor (Group Leader)	+61 2 6125 2383
Smibert, Peter	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 0319
Wang, Jianbin	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 4538
Wiedemann, Ursula	Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 4538

Early Mammalian Development Lab

Name	Role	Phone	Email
Ahmed, Jerry	Honours Student	+61 2 6125 9159
Ali, Radiya	Postdoctoral Fellow	+61 2 6125 9159
Arkell, Ruth	Senior Fellow	+61 2 6125 9158
Chappell, Anna	Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 6285
Leong, Allister	Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 9159
Ouyang, Li-Jun	Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 9159
Thomsen, Nicole	Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 9159
Zavortink, Michael	Senior Technical Officer	+61 2 6125 9159

Mammalian Molecular Genetics and Evolution Lab

Name	Role	Phone	Email
Campbell, Hugh	Fellow	+61 2 6125 5080
Hooper Jones, Jane	PhD Student	+61 2 6125 1441

Support

Name	Role	Phone	Email
Stewart-Moore, Cathie	Group Administrator	+61 2 6125 4280

Visitors

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Student Opportunities

• Available Student Opportunities
• Graduate Projects
• Honours Projects
• Summer Research Scholarship Projects

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Products and Services

• DeltaVision microscopy
• Drosophila knockout/transformation

Key Publications

Ball, E.E., Hayward, D.C., Saint, R. and Miller, D.J. (2004) A Simple Plan - Cnidarians and the Origins of Developmental Mechanisms, Nature Reviews / Genetics. 5: 567-577. (PDF)

Somers, W.G. and Saint, R. (2003) “A RhoGEF and Rho Family GTPase-Activating Protein Complex Links the Contractile Ring to Cortical Microtubules at the Onset of Cytokinesis” Dev. Cell 4, 29-39.

Shandala, T., Takizawa, K. and Saint, R. (2003) The dead ringer/retained transcriptional regulatory gene is required for positioning of the longitudinal glia in the Drosophila embryonic CNS. Development 130, 1505-1513.

Hayward, D.C., Samuel, G., Pontynen, P.C., Catmull, J. Saint, R., Miller, D.J. and Ball E.E. (2002) Localised expression of a DPP/BMP2/4 ortholog in a coral embryo. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 99, 8106-8111.

Samuel, G., Miller, D.J. and Saint, R. (2001) Conservation of a DPP/BMP signalling pathway in the non-bilateral cnidarian, Acropora millepora. Evolution and Development. 3, 241-250.

Knox, R.B., Ladiges, P.B., Evans, P. and Saint, R. (2001) Biology (2nd Edition). McGraw-Hill.

L. O'Keefe, W.G. Somers, A. Harley, and R. SAINT (2001) The Pebble GTP Exchange Factor and the Control of Cytokinesis. Cell Struct. Function 26:619-626

L. Jones, H. Richardson and R. SAINT. (2000) cyclin E transcription is regulated by multiple tissue specific regulatory elements during Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis. Development, 127:4619-4630.

Hayward, D.C., J. Catmull, J.S. Reece-Hoyes, H. Berghammer, H. Dodd, S.J. Hann, D.J. Miller, & E.E. Ball (2001) Gene structure and larval expression of cnox-2Am from the coral Acropora millepora. Dev. Genes Evol. 211, 10-19.

Grasso, L.C., D.C. Hayward, J.W.H. Trueman, K.M. Hardie, P.A. Janssens & E.E. Ball (2001) The evolution of nuclear receptors: Evidence from the coral Acropora. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 21, 93-102.

Kamei, M., Webb, G.C., Heydon, K., Hendry, I.A., Young, I.G. and Campbell, H.D. (2000). Solh, the mouse homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster small optic lobes gene: organization, chromosomal mapping, and localization of gene product to the olfactory bulb. Genomics 64, 82-89.
[Abstract]

Campbell, H.D., Kamei, M., Claudianos, C., Woollatt, E., Sutherland, G.R., Suzuki, Y., Hida, M., Sugano, S. and Young, I.G. (2000). Human and mouse homologues of the Drosophila melanogaster tweety (tty) gene: A novel gene family encoding predicted transmembrane proteins. Genomics 68, 89-92. [Abstract]

X.J. CHEN and G.D. CLARK-WALKER (1999). The petite mutation in yeasts: 50 years on. International Review of Cytology 194, 197-238.

G.D. CLARK-WALKER, P.M. HANSBRO, F. GIBSON, and X.J. CHEN (2000). Mutant residues suppressing ro-lethality in Kluyveromyces lactis occur at contact sites between subunits of F1-ATPase. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1478, 125-137.

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