The long-term goal of research in the Rebay Lab is to understand how signaling networks, cytoskeletal dynamics and tissue geometry work together to direct specific developmental decisions and programs. We use the developing Drosophila eye and heart as tractable model systems in which to explore how cell fates are specified and organized into functional tissues and organs. Our experimental approach is multidisciplinary, and incorporates molecular genetics, genomics, quantitative imaging, biochemistry and mathematical modeling. Current projects are focused on transcriptional networks and cellular mechanisms that regulate and stabilize the transition from uncommitted progenitor to specified fate and on signaling mechanisms and tissue-level biomechanical properties that together drive terminal differentiation and morphogenesis.
University of California
Berkeley
Postdoc - Biology
1997
Yale University
New Haven
PhD - Biology
1993
Columbia University
New York
BA - Mathematics
1987
The Abelson kinase and the Nedd4 family E3 ligases co-regulate Notch trafficking to limit signaling.
The Abelson kinase and the Nedd4 family E3 ligases co-regulate Notch trafficking to limit signaling. J Cell Biol. 2025 Jun 02; 224(6).
PMID: 40183942
Inter-plane feedback coordinates cell morphogenesis and maintains 3D tissue organization in the Drosophila pupal retina.
Inter-plane feedback coordinates cell morphogenesis and maintains 3D tissue organization in the Drosophila pupal retina. Development. 2024 Mar 15; 151(6).
PMID: 38533736
Ratiometric sensing of Pnt and Yan transcription factor levels confers ultrasensitivity to photoreceptor fate transitions in Drosophila.
Ratiometric sensing of Pnt and Yan transcription factor levels confers ultrasensitivity to photoreceptor fate transitions in Drosophila. Development. 2023 04 15; 150(8).
PMID: 36942737
Orthogonal coupling of a 3D cytoskeletal scaffold coordinates cell morphogenesis and maintains tissue organization in the Drosophila pupal retina.
Orthogonal coupling of a 3D cytoskeletal scaffold coordinates cell morphogenesis and maintains tissue organization in the Drosophila pupal retina. bioRxiv. 2023 Mar 07.
PMID: 36945525
A context-dependent bifurcation in the Pointed transcriptional effector network contributes specificity and robustness to retinal cell fate acquisition.
A context-dependent bifurcation in the Pointed transcriptional effector network contributes specificity and robustness to retinal cell fate acquisition. PLoS Genet. 2020 11; 16(11):e1009216.
PMID: 33253156
Tuned polymerization of the transcription factor Yan limits off-DNA sequestration to confer context-specific repression.
Tuned polymerization of the transcription factor Yan limits off-DNA sequestration to confer context-specific repression. Elife. 2018 11 09; 7.
PMID: 30412049
Collaborative repressive action of the antagonistic ETS transcription factors Pointed and Yan fine-tunes gene expression to confer robustness in Drosophila.
Collaborative repressive action of the antagonistic ETS transcription factors Pointed and Yan fine-tunes gene expression to confer robustness in Drosophila. Development. 2018 07 02; 145(13).
PMID: 29848501
Cooperative recruitment of Yan via a high-affinity ETS supersite organizes repression to confer specificity and robustness to cardiac cell fate specification.
Cooperative recruitment of Yan via a high-affinity ETS supersite organizes repression to confer specificity and robustness to cardiac cell fate specification. Genes Dev. 2018 03 01; 32(5-6):389-401.
PMID: 29535190
Pleiotropy in Drosophila organogenesis: Mechanistic insights from Combgap and the retinal determination gene network.
Pleiotropy in Drosophila organogenesis: Mechanistic insights from Combgap and the retinal determination gene network. Fly (Austin). 2018 01 02; 12(1):62-70.
PMID: 29125381
Mutations that impair Eyes absent tyrosine phosphatase activity in vitro reduce robustness of retinal determination gene network output in Drosophila.
Mutations that impair Eyes absent tyrosine phosphatase activity in vitro reduce robustness of retinal determination gene network output in Drosophila. PLoS One. 2017; 12(11):e0187546.
PMID: 29108015
Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
University of Chicago
2015
J. and J. Neubauer Faculty Development Fellowship
University of Chicago
2007 - 2008
Rita Allen Foundation Scholar Award
1998 - 2001
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award
1995 - 2000
Life Sciences Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
1993 - 1995
HHMI Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
1988 - 1993