This National Science Foundation Project Grant award of $250,000 supports research at Louisiana State University from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2025 under the Integrative Activities program. The research aims to define signaling pathways that control cytoskeletal networks during epithelial tube formation using the developing salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster. Specifically, the project will identify and characterize unidentified salivary gland G protein-coupled receptors that reorganize actomyosin networks, reveal new components in Rho signaling activation during tube formation, and discover mechanisms of how GPCR-Rho signaling organizes cortical actin during tissue invagination. The research combines genetics, imaging, computational analysis, and biochemistry to provide insights into molecular mechanisms underlying tubular organ development. It also supports training for postdoctoral and student researchers from diverse backgrounds in techniques relevant to the work. Outreach efforts include a student research mentorship program and public presentations on organ formation and related human diseases.
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