Claudia Vásquez, Ph.D.

Research

My lab will explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms that shape the construction of a functional organ. Organs have intricate three-dimensional architectures that are assembled by restructuring a combination of cellular components over the course of development. Although organ function relies on the proper implementation of this molecular and cellular sculpting process, it’s unclear how much “room for error” might be built into the program. As a model system, I study the developing renal system of the fruit fly, the Malpighian. Formation of this organ involves changes in cell shape and cell rearrangement to form long, thin tubes that produce urine. Now, using cutting-edge techniques in cell and tissue biology, genome editing, and imaging, I will determine how the reorganization of cells’ molecular architecture and structural protein networks drives the changes in cell shape that produce Malpighian tubules. I will then disrupt these processes to examine how changes in tissue morphology affect the organ’s ability to function. My work could lead to strategies for building functional organs for transplantation. Further, because Malpighian tubules are vital organs for insects that transmit diseases, my findings could identify new targets for combatting the spread of diseases such as dengue and malaria.