Ongoing projects

Maternal-to-zygotic transition

Maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is an important developmental event when epigenetic reprogramming and zygotic genome activation occurs. This initiates pluripotency on an embryo. Environmental chemicals, including flame retardants, can disrupt this process, resulting in developmental adverse effects. Our lab studies genetic and epigenetic drivers of MZT defects. Specifically, we are focusing on including histone modifications and chromatin accessibility as key targets of environmental chemicals. Read our recent BiorXiV preprint here.

Developmentally delayed zebrafish embryos exposed to flame retardant TBBPA during MZT

Dorsoventral patterning

Dorsoventral patterning is a crucial developmental event when dorsoventral axis of the embryo is established and organogenesis is initiated. This process is modulated by an array of interplaying signaling mechanisms, including the bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways. We study how environmental chemicals disrupt this patterning, with an emphasis of BMP signaling modulation and genetic/epigenetic processes driving these modulation. Learn more about zebrafish as a model for dorsoventral patterning defects here.

Embryos displaying disruption of dorsoventral patterning. V1-V3 are various phenotypes. Dasgupta et al 2021.

Chemical screening

Zebrafish is a fantastic model to screen chemicals and drugs to identify which chemicals are bioactive and drive further mechanistic investigations of emerging chemicals or chemical mixtures. Learn more about zebrafish-based screening here.

Epigenetics

Gene expressions driving crucial developmental processes are regulated by several epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, etc. Our lab integrates a number of sequencing-based approaches (bisulfite-seq, ATAC-seq, mRNA seq) to study epigenetic targets of environmental chemicals and how they modulate gene expression.

Neurodevelopment

We are venturing into the area of neurodevelopment and neurotoxicity of various environmental chemicals, such as PFASs and flame retardants. A suite of behavioral assays in zebrafish (read here) can be used as potential indicators of neurotoxicity at various life stages; we follow these up with various strategies (neurotransmitter profiling, immunohistochemistry, sequencing) to understand the roots of neurotoxic outcomes.

Circadian rhythm

We are also venturing into the area of visual development and circadian rhythm and how they can be targeted by environmental chemicals. More to come soon!

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