The Role of Deubiquitinases in Invasive Migration and Epithelial Integrity in Drosophila

Cell migration and epithelial maturation are central to normal development, whilst aberrant migration or loss of epithelial integrity are involved in a number of human diseases, including cancer and birth defects. We are studying these processes in the harmless fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which has been intensively studied for century because of its many attractive features for genetic research. Importantly, Drosophila has proven to be a powerful system in which to identify novel molecules that are involved in both development and diseases. We have identified genes required for cell invasion and the maintenance of epithelial integrity that are conserved from Drosophila to humans. We have uncovered novel roles of these genes which may help guide studies in more complex organisms