Genetics of retinal development
Our laboratory is broadly interested in studying and modeling the genetic networks that control vision
development. Taking a systems biology approach, both experimental and computational techniques are used in parallel to
identify and model gene functions during retinal development in both model organisms and human.
Model organisms including Drosophila melanogaster and mouse are used to identify novel genes that are involved
in retinal development. In Drosophila, a major effort in our laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanism of the
early retinal cell fate determination process. Retinal cell fate determination is the early phase during fly eye development
and only a handful genes (RD genes) are known to control this process. To better understand the underlying genetic network,
microarray experiments were conducted to identify novel genes that function among or immediately downstream of the RD gene group.
A combinatorial approach of comparative genomics, computational biology and genetic epistasis analysis is used to further
identify potential direct downstream targets of the RD genes. In collaboration with
Dr. Graeme Mardon, systematic modeling as well
as direct experimental studies of the function of these genes is currently underway. In mouse, we are focusing on the mechanism
through which cell fates of different types of photoreceptor cells are determined. Using both computational and experimental
approaches, novel retinal specific genes are identified. Further studies of these genes by generating knockout mice will likely
to provide further insights of mouse retinal development.
Developing computer software and novel technologies that take advantage of the large amount of data generated from high
throughput projects, such as Genome Sequencing Projects and the HapMap project, is another focus of our lab. Recently, we have
developed several new methods that can greatly accelerate the process of mapping and identification of mutations in the genome.
Optimizing and applying these technologies in the identification of human genes involved in retinal diseases will be another major
activity of the lab.
Selected Publications
Chen R, Amoui M, Zhang Z, Mardon G (1997) Dachshund and Eyes Absent proteins form a complex and function
synergistically to induce ectopic eye development in Drosophila. Cell 91: 893-903.
Chen R, Halder G, Zhang Z, Mardon G (1999) Signaling by the TGF-β homolog decapentaplegic functions reiteratively
within the network of genes controlling retinal cell fate determination in Drosophila. Development 126:935-943.
Chen R, Bouck JB, Weinstock GM, Gibbs RA (2001) Comparing vertebrate whole-genome shotgun reads to the human genome.
Genome Research 11:1807-1816.
Chen R, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Gibbs RA (2004) Dynamic building of a BAC clone tiling path for the rat genome
sequencing project. Genome Research 14:679-684.
Chen R, Mardon G (2005) Keeping an eye on the fly genome. Developmental Biology 282:285-293.
Ostrin EJ, Li Y, Hoffman K, Liu J, Wang K, Zhang L, Mardon G, Chen R (2006) Genome-wide identification of direct
targets of the Drosophila retinal determination protein Eyeless. Genome Research 16:466-476.
Contact Information
- Rui Chen, Ph.D.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
- Baylor College of Medicine
- One Baylor Plaza N1519
- Houston, Texas 77030, U.S.A.
- Tel: (713) 798-5194
- Fax: (713) 798-5741
- E-mail: ruichen@bcm.tmc.edu
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