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WEIL LAB

Our work aims to address the fundamental, and fascinating, question of how a single cell becomes a fully functioning organism. We want to understand the mechanisms that underpin the spatial and temporal coordination of egg and early embryo development. We have a particular interest in the role of biomolecular condensates in the regulation of mRNAs at these stages.

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RESEARCH

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Regulating protein expression is fundamental to the life of any cell. One way this can be done is through mRNA association with biomolecular condensates, membrane-less compartments that function as reaction crucibles and sub-cellular organisational hubs. Condensates have been shown to be involved in effectively all aspects of biology, including development, neurobiology, and pathogenesis, and are a promising target for new therapeutic innovation. However, to inform future drug discovery, an in vivo molecular understanding of condensates is required. 


In early animal development, condensates are important in the patterning of embryonic axes, formation of neuronal networks, and movement of cells. We test the formation and function of a conserved biomolecular condensate, processing bodies (P Bodies), in Drosophila exploiting their advantages for sophisticated genetics and live imaging.  Research in fruit flies has identified thousands of genes with human homologues and has provided key insights into developmental pathways, oncology, neurobiology and immunology. 


Our use of the egg chamber and early embryo has the experimental benefits of being an in vivo developing system, allowing for a controllable switch at egg activation, ease of physical manipulation, and providing ample material for experimentation. Recently, we have shown that P bodies in the mature Drosophila egg are primarily regulated by structurally distinct proteins and weak multivalent interactions. In vivo, P body integrity is controlled through an arrested physical state which is critical for the storage of mRNAs. 


Overall, we aim to fully elucidate the formation, maintenance and dynamics of P bodies and how these condensates control mRNA metabolism. This work will shed light on the fundamental mechanisms controlling cellular protein production and inform medical advancements.

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CURRENT PROJECTS

I am always interested in discussing research collaborations and supporting well qualified postdoctoral and postgraduate candidates.

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BIOMOLECULAR CONDENSATES IN
EARLY DEVELOPMENT

COORDINATED CHANGE AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN SMALL CELL NETWORKS

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IN VITRO FERTILISATION AND EGG ACTIVATION IN DROSOPHILA

Please contact me to discuss these projects or other research ideas.

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RECENT PAPERS

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SPINDLE F-ACTIN COORDINATES THE FIRST METAPHASE-ANAPHASE TRANSITION IN DROSOPHILA MEIOSIS

Wood B. and Weil T.T.
bioRxiv (2022)

ADAPTABLE P BODY PHYSICAL STATES DIFFERENTIALLY REGULATE BICOID MRNA STORAGE DURING EARLY DROSOPHILA DEVELOPMENT

Sankaranarayanan M., Emenecker R.J., Wilby E.,  Jahnel M., Trussina  I. R. E., Wayland M., Alberti S., Holehouse A.S., Weil T.T.

 Developmental Cell 56. (2021) 

OSMOLARITY-REGULATED SWELLING INITIATES EGG ACTIVATION IN DROSOPHILA

York-Andersen A.H., Wood B.W., Wilby E.L., Berry A.S., Weil T.T. 
Open Biol. 11: 210067. (2021)

GRANULE REGULATION BY PHASE SEPARATION DURING DROSOPHILA OOGENESIS

Sankaranarayanan M., and Weil T.T. 
Emerg Top Life Sci., 4(3):343-352. (2020)

A CALCIUM-MEDIATED ACTIN REDISTRIBUTION AT EGG ACTIVATION IN DROSOPHILA

York-Andersen A.H., Hu Q., Wood B.W., Wolfner M.F., and Weil T.T.
Mol Reprod Dev., 87(2):293-304. (2020)

ALL PAPERS

since 2006

PEOPLE

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LAB MEMBERS

June 2022

ALL ARE WELCOME

Adapted from sammykatta.com/

TIM WEIL

Group Leader

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CONTACT US

Thanks for your interest in our research. Get in touch with us with any questions or comments regarding our work.

Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom

+44 (0)1223 765391

tw419(at)cam.ac.uk

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