Research focus: In the Hales lab we perform genetic analysis with the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to explore the molecular mechanisms by which mitochondria are moved and shaped in cells. Mitochondria are the organelles often referred to as the "powerhouses of the cell," since they are the sites where energy from food is stored in ATP. In many cell types with unusual energy needs, mitochondria move (in a regulated way) to be close to energy-requiring structures such as flagella or ion pumps. In addition, mitochondria often undergo regulated fusion and division, sometimes existing as a single large network in the cell, and sometimes as many individual units. We speculate that such changes may contribute to the efficiency of ATP generation in certain contexts. In Drosophila melanogaster (as in most other higher organisms), mitochondria undergo a dramatic series of shape changes during spermatogenesis. Through the identification of male-sterile mutants defective in mitochondrial morphogenesis, we can isolate and characterize genes whose protein products function in this process.

Current personnel in the lab:
Sarah Pyfrom '11 (HHMI Teaching and Research Intern for 2011-2012)
Julie Coursen '14
Aaron Deal '12
Yihharn Hwang '12
Melissa Lorenzo '12
Laura McCoy '13
William Mitchell '13
Bethany Wagner '14

Past projects:
Fitz Sturgill '01 Inverse PCR to identify a candidate gene for no mitochondrial derivative
Shaheen Counts '01 Characterizing Drosophila male sterile mutants with mitochondrial defects in spermatids
Sean Burke '02 Identification of a candidate gene for no mitochondrial derivative (nmd) in Drosophila melanogaster.
Marisa Wilson '02 Characterization of new mitochondrial mutants in Drosophila
Laura Quillian '03 Investigation of mitochondrial morphogenesis in Drosophila: recombination mapping of two new mutants with defects in nebenkern formation.
Monica Siegenthaler '03 Generation of germline clones to define a role for the milton gene in mitochondrial morphogenesis in Drosophila spermatids.
Sarah Baxley '04 Testing the nmd candidate gene for rescue of the mutant phenotype
Sara Holmberg '04 Characterization of the subcellular localization of the nmd gene product
Ty Plowshay '05 Characterization and fine mapping of the mitoshell mutant
Lauren Watson '06 EMS screen for new nmd alleles
Lucy Marcil '06 Characterization of new mitochondrial mutants in Drosophila
Laura Sedig '07 Characterization of the mitoshell phenotype and generation of deficiencies in the mitoshell region
Ben Whigham '07 Determining the role of milton in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Carrie Black '06 Characterization of the specificity of a polyclonal antibody raised against Nmd
Kevin Saunders '05 Characterization of the specificity of a polyclonal antibody raised against Nmd
Lindsay Nakaishi '05 Generating new nmd alleles
Anna Nam '08 Characterizing the subcellular localization of the nmd gene product
Levi Benson (Colgate '06, summer REU student) Generating germline clones to dissect the roles of milton and dMiro in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Sarah Durnbaugh '06 Characterizing the subcellular localization of the nmd gene product (Honors project)
Kara Koehrn '06 Generation of mutants in the CG4701 gene in Drosophila
Sarah Coffey '09 Determination of microtubule morphology in mitoshell and nmd
Bevin English '08 Characterization of the hypomorphic male sterile nmd^ry4 allele and analysis of the nmd paralog CG4701’s putative role in mitochondrial morphogenesis during Drosophila spermatogenesis.
Katie Wood '08 Cloning and characterization of mitoshell, a gene required for normal mitochondrial aggregation during Drosophila spermatogenesis
Laura Bergner '09 The role of beta tubulin and other proteins in mitoshell-mediated cytokinesis events in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Mike Beaucaire '09 The effect of Sib mutations on cytokinesis failure in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Carolyn Wakeman '09 Characterizing nuclear morphology and cytokinetic defects in mitoshell, a recessive male sterile line ofDrosophila melanogaster
Kin Lau '10 Determining if the mutation which causes sterility in the AA2-37 and AA2-73 strains of Drosophila melanogaster is on CG4701
Eddie Hickman '09 Characterizing mitoshell: localizing the gene product, sequencing new alleles, and determining
effects on centriole and basal body placement
Laura Bergner '09 Dissecting a novel mutant: characterizing temporal and cytokinetic defects in the mitoshell mutant
Hunter Stone '09 Testing whether CG4701rescues male sterile mutations in the AA273 and AA237 male sterile lines of Drosophila
Madeleine Pilon '12 Construction of a mitoshell rescue construct
Sarah Pyfrom '11 Dissecting gene disregulation in mitoshell
Dylan Coughtrey '11 Subcellular localization of the CG4701 gene product
Lauren Ivey '11 Testing candidate genes for ms(2)1400
Tessa Campbell '11 Assessing premature mitochondrial fusion in mitoshell
Casie Genetti '11 Assessing functionality of Nmd-GFP fusion protein
Leah Smith '13 Assessing basal bodies in CG4701 male sterile mutants
Taylor Gunnell '11 Tracking mitochondria in ms(2)1400
Sarah Pyfrom '11 Characterizing the function of nmd in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Dylan Coughtrey '11 Characterizing the function of CG4701 in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Lauren Ivey '11Constructing a ms(2)1400-GFP fusion transgene
Casie Genetti '11 Roles of ATP synthase subunits in mitochondrial shaping in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Tessa Campbell '11 Assessing the ms(2)1400 phenotype in the absence of mitochondrial fusion
Chris Lima '11Characterizing the emmenthal mutant phenotype in Drosophila spermatogenesis
Conroy Field, Johnson C. Smith University '14, RT-PCR to assess transcriptional defects of CG7813 in ms(2)1400 mutants

Requirements for students enrolled in Bio371 or 372: After initial discussions with Dr. Hales and completion of background reading, each student is expected to write a project plan. The plan should include a summary of relevant background information, an overview of the experiments to be performed, and possible experimental directions to follow depending on data gathered. All lab members gather weekly at a scheduled time for a meeting. Students give formal presentations of their ongoing research. Some meetings will also include journal club discussions, for which students are expected to read assigned selections in advance. Students also have individual weekly conversations with Dr. Hales and turn in weekly time sheets. At the end of the semester, each student is expected to create a poster summarizing the project. Students are expected to spend at least ten hours a week directly on their projects, not counting meeting time.

Grading for students enrolled in Bio371 or 372:

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last modified August 30, 2011 by K. Hales