The Labosky lab is interested in studying genes that control normal development of the mammalian embryo by examining the transcription factors of the Fox family.  The lab's projects all revolve around their interests in the maintenance of progenitor cell populations in the embryo.

One project focuses on the transcriptional repressor Foxd3 that is expressed ubiquitously in the early mouse embryo and later in multipotent neural crest cells and the pancreas. Lab members have generated a null mutation in the Foxd3 locus which shows that this gene is required for maintenance of the epiblast and therefore establishment of embryonic stem cells (ES cells). It is independently required in the trophoblast lineage for maintenance of trophoblast stem cells (TS cells).  Their hypothesis that Foxd3 maintains stem cell characteristics will be tested in future experiments by altering levels of Foxd3 in ES cells and determining whether artificially high or low levels of the protein alter the potential of the cells.

The Labosky lab has recently discovered that Foxd3 is expressed in the embryonic and adult pancreas (primarily in beta cells of the islet) and the protein changes sub-cellular localization with diet. Future experiments are planned to understand the role that Foxd3 may be playing in pancreatic development, maintenance and/or regeneration.

For more information about Dr. Labosky visit her Vanderbilt Faculty Page

NEWEST PUBLICATIONS

Requirement for Foxd3 in the maintenance of neural crest progenitors.  Development (2008) 135: 1615-1624

A viable mouse model of factor X deficiency provides evidence for maternal transfer of factor X.  Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2008) 6: 339-345