Live imaging and genetic dissection of basement membrane formation and function in Drosophila

The laboratory has been exploiting Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to understand the development and function of the basement membrane (BM) during animal development. We have developed live imaging approaches examine the initial dynamics of BM polymerisation during embryogenesis as well as transgenic tools to dissect the function of specific mutations in BM components such as Collagen IV (ColIV). This has led to a number of publications that have revealed the mechanisms involved in initial BM formation in the embryo as well as homeostatic turnover of the BM network.



Matsubayashi et al., Rapid Homeostatic turnover of embryonic ECM during tissue morphogenesis. (2020) Dev Cell. 6;54:33-42

Matsubayashi et al., A moving source of matrix components is essential for de novo basement membrane formation. (2017) Current Biology. 20;27:3256-3534