Dr Masazumi Tada

Research summary

I am interested in cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying co-ordinated and directional cell movements. The primary focus is on morphogenetic movements occurring during gastrualtion using the zebrafish as a model system; epiboly, convergence/extension and anterior migration of mesodermal cells. Since we showed that Wnt11 is an important regulator of convergence/extension movements during gastrulation in vertebrates, it has been evident that this ligand acts in a pathway related to the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway in Drosophila. Recently, the core PCP genes have been also implicated in regulating a variety of morphogenetic processes in vertebrates including neural tube closure, orientation of cochlear hair cells, migration of facial motorneurons and ciliogenesis. Current projects are a) Understanding mechanisms by which core PCP proteins regulate gastrulation movements in zebrafish; b) Identifying and characterising genetic pathways that act in or in parallel with the PCP pathway during gastrulation; c) Exploring other biological processes that are regulated by the PCP genes and their genetic modifiers.

Education

University of Tsukuba

PhD, Applied Biochemistry | 1990

University of Tsukuba

MSc, Physical Sciences | 1986

University of Tsukuba

BSc, Applied Biochemistry | 1983

Publications