About Dr. Bretscher

The Bretscher lab uses the Drosophila melanogaster model system to study the tissue specific role of TGFb signaling in glucose and lipid homeostasis.  Understanding TGFb signaling in a tissue specific manner is required for successful therapeutic intervention. The lab begins by looking at difference in nutrient storage and then identifying changes in metabolic pathways leading to differences in nutrient levels.  This information is used to uncover additional functions for TGFb signaling.  Previous work has tied changes in nutrient levels to regulation of mitochondrial DNA and stress responses.

Additionally, TGFb signaling has recently gained attention in the medical field for having the potential to prevent muscle atrophy resulting from disease and/or weight loss drugs such as GLP1s.  However, these studies have been done on a limited time scale, and the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown.  The Bretscher lab will use the Drosophila model system to investigate (1) the molecular mechanisms by which TGFb  regulates muscle growth, (2) the effects of manipulating TGFb signaling in muscle on peripheral tissues and (3) the effect it has on overall organismal health and ability to respond to environmental stressors.

The lab uses a combination of confocal microscopy, biochemical measurements of metabolic reaction rates and nutrient levels, molecular biology and Drosophila genetics.

Education

B.S. Biology, Haverford College, Haverford PA; Ph.D. Molecular Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham NC. Postdoctoral Training: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

 

Research Interests

• TGF beta signaling
• Metabolism
• Drosophila genetics
• Organismal physiology
• Mitochondria
• Nutrition