van Werven lab

Cell Fate and Gene Regulation Laboratory

 Signal integration at master regulatory genes

We are very interested in molecules called RNAs, which are produced when particular sections of DNA are ‘read’ and are thought to be involved in controlling gene activity and differentiation.

Multiple signals are required to initiate gametogenesis in budding yeast: nutrients such as nitrogen compounds and glucose need to be absent from the medium, cells need to respire (use a non-fermentable carbon source) and must be diploid.

These signals drive entry into gametogenesis and all converge on the IME1 promoter. This promoter is one of the largest and highly regulated promoters in budding yeast. To understand how these signals are integrated to make a binary cell fate decision, it is essential to identify all the molecular players and pathways involved in acting at the IME1 promoter. The lab will use proteomic and genetic approaches to identify these factors.