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	Kavita Arora, Ph.D. Associate Professor Ph.D., Bombay University, India, 1985 4215 McGGaugh Hall Irvine, CA 92697-2300 Tel: (949) 824-1087 Fax: (949) 824-4709 karora@uci.edu ARORA LAB 4413 McGaugh Hall (949) 824-1223 (Profile)

Kavita Arora, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Ph.D., Bombay University, India, 1985

4215 McGGaugh Hall
Irvine, CA 92697-2300
Tel: (949) 824-1087
Fax: (949) 824-4709
karora@uci.edu

ARORA LAB
4413 McGaugh Hall
(949) 824-1223


	RESEARCH INTEREST: Drosophila development We are interested in understanding the role of two TGF-ß related genes, screw (scw) and decapentaplegic (dpp), in specifying cell fate during embryonic development in the fruitfly Drosoila. Since the TGF-ß signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved, findings from a genetically tractable organisms like Drosophila can provide insights into the mechanism of action of TGF-ß proteins in other organisms, including humans. We have cloned the scw gene and shown that although scw transcripts are ubiquitously expressed, the protein is only required in dorsal cells. It is likely that Scw may be activated in a subset of the cells where it is expressed because of its interaction with other genes involved in patterning the embryo. We are using molecular genetic tools and biochemical techniques to test how Scw activity is modulated post-translationally.

RESEARCH INTEREST: Drosophila development
We are interested in understanding the role of two TGF-ß related genes, screw (scw) and decapentaplegic (dpp), in specifying cell fate during embryonic development in the fruitfly Drosoila. Since the TGF-ß signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved, findings from a genetically tractable organisms like Drosophila can provide insights into the mechanism of action of TGF-ß proteins in other organisms, including humans. We have cloned the scw gene and shown that although scw transcripts are ubiquitously expressed, the protein is only required in dorsal cells. It is likely that Scw may be activated in a subset of the cells where it is expressed because of its interaction with other genes involved in patterning the embryo. We are using molecular genetic tools and biochemical techniques to test how Scw activity is modulated post-translationally.