Rapid evolution of gene regulation

PA 903/8-2

Alterations in environmental conditions can lead to rapid, adaptive changes in gene expression. This project aims to understand cis-regulatory evolution in natural populations of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Using high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and reporter gene experiments, we will identify genetic variants that influence gene expression. Furthermore, we will determine the magnitude of their effect on gene expression and investigate their population dynamics.

Publications
  • Ramnarine, T. J. S., A. Glaser-Schmitt, A. Catalán, and J Parsch (2019) Population genetic and functional analysis of a cis-regulatory polymorphism in the Drosophila melanogaster Metallothionein A gene. Genes (Basel) 10: 147. DOI: 10.3390/genes10020147

  • Glaser-Schmitt, A., A. Zečić, and J. Parsch (2018) Gene regulatory variation in Drosophila melanogaster renal tissue. Genetics 210: 287-301. DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301073

  • Glaser-Schmitt A, Parsch J. (2018) Functional characterization of adaptive variation within a cis-regulatory element influencing Drosophila melanogaster growth. PLoS Biol. 16(1):e2004538. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004538

Principal Investigator

Prof. Dr. John Parsch
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Biozentrum Martinsried
Department Biologie II
Grosshaderner Str. 2
D-82152 Planegg
Phone: +49 89 218074107
Fax: +49 89 218074104
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Cross-link

Postdoc Amanda Glaser-Schmitt receives start-up grant