Edwin L.FergusonEdwin L. Ferguson41.78927490000000-87.601250000000002089Ferguson, Edwin L.Pattern FormationEmbryogenesisIntercellular SignalingStem Cell BiologyDevelopment and EvolutionDrosophilaThe lab approaches questions of pattern formation and cell fate specification in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Our current interests are the mechanisms underlying the patterning of the embryonic dorsal-ventral (D/V) axis and the asymmetric self-renewal divisions of adult stem cells.
The main focus of lab has been on the role of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) family member Decapentaplegic (Dpp) in patterning the D/V axis. Over the years, my laboratory discovered the conservation of dorsal-ventral patterning mechanisms between arthropods and chordates, identified the function of the Spemann organizer in Xenopus, showed that a non-linear feedback circuit resulted in a bistable pattern of BMP signaling during Drosophila D/V patterning, identified a genetic network that confers robustness to the D/V patterning system in Drosophila, and was involved in a collaboration to demonstrate that spatial-temporal changes in the BMP gradient drove morphological changes during Dipteran evolution.
We have also investigated the processes responsible for the maintenance of the germ line stem cells (GSCs) in the adult ovary. The GSCs are present in a niche composed of non-dividing somatic cells, and these cells secrete BMP ligands necessary for GSC maintenance. The GSC has high levels of BMP signaling, while its sister cell, the Cystoblast, has low levels of BMP signaling and begins the process of differentiation. We have identified multiple redundant mechanisms that aid in creating this dichotomy in BMP signaling between sister cells. In particular, we have shown that interactions between the GSC and the surrounding niche cells create an intrinsic polarity in the GSC that both controls the plane of GSC division and elevates responsiveness to Dpp within the GSC. Recently, we have shown that GSCs can be maintained in the niche with very low levels of BMP signaling, which has implications for stem cell maintenance during aging.
Note: Dr. Ferguson is not currently taking new graduate students.Professorprns:coAuthorOfcoauthor ofprns:emailEncryptedemail addressprns:endDateend dateFaculty Rankprns:fullNamefull nameprns:hasAuthorListauthor listprns:hasFacultyRankhas faculty rankprns:hasNetworkhas networkprns:hasPublicationVenuepublished inprns:informationResourceReferenceinformation resource referenceprns:isPrimaryPositionis primary positionprns:latitudelatitudeprns:longitudelongitudeprns:mainImagephotoprns:maxWeightmaximum weightprns:medlineTAjournal title abbreviationprns:meshDescriptorUIMeSH DescriptorUIprns:meshSemanticGroupNameMeSH semantic group nameprns:minWeightminimum weightprns:numberOfAuthorsnumber of authorsprns:numberOfConnectionsnumber of connectionsprns:numberOfPublicationsnumber of publicationsprns:personIdPerson IDprns:personInPrimaryPositionperson in primary positionprns:physicalNeighborOfphysical neighborprns:positionInDepartmentposition in departmentprns:predicateNodepredicate nodeprns:publicationDatepublication dateprns:similarTosimilar toprns:sortOrdersort orderprns:startDatestart dateprns:trainingAtOrganizationeducational organizationprns:uniquenessWeightuniqueness weightprns:yearyearAcademic ArticleArticleDocumentbibo:pmidPubMed IdentifierAddressvivo:addressCitycityvivo:addressPostalCodepostal codevivo:addressStatestate or provincevivo:authorInAuthorshipselected publicationsvivo:authorRankauthor rank in publicationAuthorshipvivo:awardOrHonorawards and honorsAward or Honor Receiptvivo:degreeEarneddegree earnedDepartmentvivo:educationalTrainingeducation and trainingEducational Trainingvivo:freetextKeywordkeywordsvivo:hasResearchArearesearch areasvivo:hrJobTitleHR job titleInformation Resourcevivo:linkAnchorTextlink anchor textvivo:linkedAuthorlinked authorvivo:linkedInformationResourcelinked information resourcevivo:mailingAddressmailing addressvivo:majorFieldmajor field of degreevivo:orcidIdORCID idvivo:overviewoverviewvivo:personInPositionpositionsPositionvivo:positionInOrganizationposition in organizationvivo:preferredTitlepreferred titleURLLinkvivo:webpagewebpagerdf:predicatepredicaterdf:typetyperdfs:labellabelConceptAgentfoaf:firstNamefirst namefoaf:lastNamelast nameOrganizationPerson06/1976Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Electrical EngineeringB.S.Electrical Engineering05/1985Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute &Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute &, GeneticsPh.D.Genetics06/1992University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley, GeneticsPostdocGeneticsMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology, 06/1976, BiologyB.S.Biology20012000Cancer Research Foundation Fletcher Scholar20112008Senior Scholar Award in Aging, Ellison Medical Foundation19971993Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences19901987Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship2009 Llewellyn John and Harriet Manchester Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching2011Biological Sciences Division Distinguished Educator and Mentor AwardAuthorship 1076914Authorship 1076924Authorship 1076934Authorship 1076943Authorship 1076953Authorship 1076961Authorship 1076971Authorship 1076985Authorship 1076992Authorship 1077001Authorship 1077014Authorship 1077021Authorship 1077031Authorship 10770419409830Tax FE, Thomas JH, Ferguson EL, Horvitz HRGeneticsIdentification and characterization of genes that interact with lin-12 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 1997 Dec; 147(4):1675-95.Genetics1997-12-01T00:00:001997Identification and characterization of genes that interact with lin-12 in Caenorhabditis elegans.2881214Ferguson EL, Sternberg PW, Horvitz HRNatureA genetic pathway for the specification of the vulval cell lineages of Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature. 1987 Mar 19-25; 326(6110):259-67.Nature1987-03-01T00:00:001987A genetic pathway for the specification of the vulval cell lineages of Caenorhabditis elegans.3996896Ferguson EL, Horvitz HRGeneticsIdentification and characterization of 22 genes that affect the vulval cell lineages of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 1985 May; 110(1):17-72.Genetics1985-05-01T00:00:001985Identification and characterization of 22 genes that affect the vulval cell lineages of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.2806880Ferguson EL, Horvitz HRGeneticsThe multivulva phenotype of certain Caenorhabditis elegans mutants results from defects in two functionally redundant pathways. Genetics. 1989 Sep; 123(1):109-21.Genetics1989-09-01T00:00:001989The multivulva phenotype of certain Caenorhabditis elegans mutants results from defects in two functionally redundant pathways.9694800Xu X, Yin Z, Hudson JB, Ferguson EL, Frasch MGenes & developmentSmad proteins act in combination with synergistic and antagonistic regulators to target Dpp responses to the Drosophila mesoderm. Genes Dev. 1998 Aug 01; 12(15):2354-70.Genes Dev1998-08-01T00:00:001998Smad proteins act in combination with synergistic and antagonistic regulators to target Dpp responses to the Drosophila mesoderm.7477350Huang M, Gu G, Ferguson EL, Chalfie MNatureA stomatin-like protein necessary for mechanosensation in C. elegans. Nature. 1995 Nov 16; 378(6554):292-5.Nature1995-11-16T00:00:001995A stomatin-like protein necessary for mechanosensation in C. elegans.17537795Page BD, Diede SJ, Tenlen JR, Ferguson ELDevelopment (Cambridge, England)EEL-1, a Hect E3 ubiquitin ligase, controls asymmetry and persistence of the SKN-1 transcription factor in the early C. elegans embryo. Development. 2007 Jun; 134(12):2303-14.Development2007-06-01T00:00:002007EEL-1, a Hect E3 ubiquitin ligase, controls asymmetry and persistence of the SKN-1 transcription factor in the early C. elegans embryo.1423606Ferguson EL, Anderson KVCellDecapentaplegic acts as a morphogen to organize dorsal-ventral pattern in the Drosophila embryo. Cell. 1992 Oct 30; 71(3):451-61.Cell1992-10-30T00:00:001992Decapentaplegic acts as a morphogen to organize dorsal-ventral pattern in the Drosophila embryo.1618130Ferguson EL, Anderson KVDevelopment (Cambridge, England)Localized enhancement and repression of the activity of the TGF-beta family member, decapentaplegic, is necessary for dorsal-ventral pattern formation in the Drosophila embryo. Development. 1992 Mar; 114(3):583-97.Development1992-03-01T00:00:001992Localized enhancement and repression of the activity of the TGF-beta family member, decapentaplegic, is necessary for dorsal-ventral pattern formation in the Drosophila embryo.1339676Anderson KV, Schneider DS, Morisato D, Jin Y, Ferguson ELCold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biologyExtracellular morphogens in Drosophila embryonic dorsal-ventral patterning. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1992; 57:409-17.Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol1992-01-01T00:00:001992Extracellular morphogens in Drosophila embryonic dorsal-ventral patterning.1840509Shimell MJ, Ferguson EL, Childs SR, O'Connor MBCellThe Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning gene tolloid is related to human bone morphogenetic protein 1. Cell. 1991 Nov 01; 67(3):469-81.Cell1991-11-01T00:00:001991The Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning gene tolloid is related to human bone morphogenetic protein 1.1743055Ferguson EL, Anderson KVCurrent topics in developmental biologyDorsal-ventral pattern formation in the Drosophila embryo: the role of zygotically active genes. Curr Top Dev Biol. 1991; 25:17-43.Curr Top Dev Biol1991-01-01T00:00:001991Dorsal-ventral pattern formation in the Drosophila embryo: the role of zygotically active genes.19154732Yu H, Seah A, Herman MA, Ferguson EL, Horvitz HR, Sternberg PWDevelopmental biologyWnt and EGF pathways act together to induce C. elegans male hook development. Dev Biol. 2009 Mar 15; 327(2):419-32.Dev Biol2008-12-30T00:00:002008Wnt and EGF pathways act together to induce C. elegans male hook development.AnthonyMahowaldAnthony Mahowald41.7886000000000087.598699999999993645Mahowald, AnthonyLouis Block Professor, EmeritusD004330Living Beings814940.726852DrosophilaEcology and EvolutionMolecular Genetics and Cell BiologyOrganismal Biology and AnatomyD004331Living Beings1115960.694543Drosophila melanogasterAuthorship 123468Authorship 134272Authorship 144215Authorship 197134Authorship 164822Authorship 154182Authorship 195494Authorship 247162Authorship 266832Authorship 433066Authorship 490006Authorship 91187Authorship 1246518752215Holley SA, Neul JL, Attisano L, Wrana JL, Sasai Y, O'Connor MB, De Robertis EM, Ferguson ELCellThe Xenopus dorsalizing factor noggin ventralizes Drosophila embryos by preventing DPP from activating its receptor. Cell. 1996 Aug 23; 86(4):607-17.Cell1996-08-23T00:00:001996The Xenopus dorsalizing factor noggin ventralizes Drosophila embryos by preventing DPP from activating its receptor.8791529Ferguson ELCurrent opinion in genetics & developmentConservation of dorsal-ventral patterning in arthropods and chordates. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 1996 Aug; 6(4):424-31.Curr Opin Genet Dev1996-08-01T00:00:001996Conservation of dorsal-ventral patterning in arthropods and chordates.10498935Podos SD, Ferguson ELTrends in genetics : TIGMorphogen gradients: new insights from DPP. Trends Genet. 1999 Oct; 15(10):396-402.Trends Genet1999-10-01T00:00:001999Morphogen gradients: new insights from DPP.9827801Neul JL, Ferguson ELCellSpatially restricted activation of the SAX receptor by SCW modulates DPP/TKV signaling in Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning. Cell. 1998 Nov 13; 95(4):483-94.Cell1998-11-13T00:00:001998Spatially restricted activation of the SAX receptor by SCW modulates DPP/TKV signaling in Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning.9502722Hudson JB, Podos SD, Keith K, Simpson SL, Ferguson ELDevelopment (Cambridge, England)The Drosophila Medea gene is required downstream of dpp and encodes a functional homolog of human Smad4. Development. 1998 Apr; 125(8):1407-20.Development1998-04-01T00:00:001998The Drosophila Medea gene is required downstream of dpp and encodes a functional homolog of human Smad4.11703946Podos SD, Hanson KK, Wang YC, Ferguson ELDevelopmental cellThe DSmurf ubiquitin-protein ligase restricts BMP signaling spatially and temporally during Drosophila embryogenesis. Dev Cell. 2001 Oct; 1(4):567-78.Dev Cell2001-10-01T00:00:002001The DSmurf ubiquitin-protein ligase restricts BMP signaling spatially and temporally during Drosophila embryogenesis.15105369Casanueva MO, Ferguson ELDevelopment (Cambridge, England)Germline stem cell number in the Drosophila ovary is regulated by redundant mechanisms that control Dpp signaling. Development. 2004 May; 131(9):1881-90.Development2004-05-01T00:00:002004Germline stem cell number in the Drosophila ovary is regulated by redundant mechanisms that control Dpp signaling.Ben May Department of Cancer Research15759004Wang YC, Ferguson ELNatureSpatial bistability of Dpp-receptor interactions during Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning. Nature. 2005 Mar 10; 434(7030):229-34.Nature2005-03-10T00:00:002005Spatial bistability of Dpp-receptor interactions during Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning.21138941Goldstein JA, Kelly SM, LoPresti PP, Heydemann A, Earley JU, Ferguson EL, Wolf MJ, McNally EMHuman molecular geneticsSMAD signaling drives heart and muscle dysfunction in a Drosophila model of muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet. 2011 Mar 01; 20(5):894-904.Hum Mol Genet2010-12-06T00:00:002010SMAD signaling drives heart and muscle dysfunction in a Drosophila model of muscular dystrophy.22802725Lu W, Casanueva MO, Mahowald AP, Kato M, Lauterbach D, Ferguson ELPLoS biologyNiche-associated activation of rac promotes the asymmetric division of Drosophila female germline stem cells. PLoS Biol. 2012; 10(7):e1001357.PLoS Biol2012-07-03T00:00:002012Niche-associated activation of rac promotes the asymmetric division of Drosophila female germline stem cells.9136625Holley SA, Ferguson ELBioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biologyFish are like flies are like frogs: conservation of dorsal-ventral patterning mechanisms. Bioessays. 1997 Apr; 19(4):281-4.Bioessays1997-04-01T00:00:001997Fish are like flies are like frogs: conservation of dorsal-ventral patterning mechanisms.7617035Holley SA, Jackson PD, Sasai Y, Lu B, De Robertis EM, Hoffmann FM, Ferguson ELNatureA conserved system for dorsal-ventral patterning in insects and vertebrates involving sog and chordin. Nature. 1995 Jul 20; 376(6537):249-53.Nature1995-07-20T00:00:001995A conserved system for dorsal-ventral patterning in insects and vertebrates involving sog and chordin.D029721Chemicals & Drugs894860.698475Drosophila Proteins11585808Decotto E, Ferguson ELDevelopment (Cambridge, England)A positive role for Short gastrulation in modulating BMP signaling during dorsoventral patterning in the Drosophila embryo. Development. 2001 Oct; 128(19):3831-41.Development2001-10-01T00:00:002001A positive role for Short gastrulation in modulating BMP signaling during dorsoventral patterning in the Drosophila embryo.D019485Chemicals & Drugs411260.927643Bone Morphogenetic ProteinsD019521Physiology652090.849623Body Patterninghttp://shb-lab.orgHorne-Badovinac Lab Websitehttps://voices.uchicago.edu/fehonlab/Fehon Labhttp://www.ruthenlab.orgruthenlab.orghttps://mgcb.uchicago.edu/faculty/edwin-l-ferguson-phdMGCB Web Pagehttp://rustlab.uchicago.edu/Rust Labhttp://voices.uchicago.edu/rebaylab/Rebay Labhttp://manyuanlonglab.uchicago.edu/Long Lab Websitehttp://schmidtottlab.uchicago.edu/Schmidt-Ott Laboratory: Developmental Mechanisms and EvolutionMol Gen/Cell BioUniversity of ChicagoRobertJosephsxWhmGKQFEf/5hHlsaUXv9Gq0+s+oRobert Josephs41.78927490000000-87.60125000000000150Josephs, RobertProfessorAlexander J.Ruthenburg1nB8H6kQF+7Mg31EdUXm+mb7+MTz7LFLAlexander J. Ruthenburg41.78927490000000-87.601250000000001716Ruthenburg, Alexander J.Associate ProfessorRichard G.FehonRichard G. Fehon41.78927490000000-87.601250000000001759Fehon, Richard G.Professor2.582620.00551835162research areas0.3624590.1108413coauthor of48.95914.1862160similar to1129selected publicationsSallyHorne-BadovinacSally Horne-Badovinac41.78927490000000-87.601250000000002252Horne-Badovinac, SallyProfessorMariaCasanuevaMaria O. Casanueva41.78927490000000-87.601250000000002374Casanueva, MariaIlariaRebayIlaria Rebay41.78927490000000-87.601250000000002383Rebay, IlariaProfessorUrs C.Schmidt-OttUrs C. Schmidt-Ott41.78927490000000-87.601250000000002507Schmidt-Ott, Urs C.0000-0002-1351-9472ProfessorManyuanLongManyuan Long41.78927490000000-87.601250000000002617Long, ManyuanProfessorLaurens J.MetsLaurens J. Mets41.78927490000000-87.60125000000000311Mets, Laurens J.Associate ProfessorMichael J.RustMichael J. Rust41.78927490000000-87.60125000000000767Rust, Michael J.Professortrue1true1ProfessorProfessortrue1ProfessorProfessortrue1Louis Block Professor, EmeritusLouis Block Professor, Emeritustrue1ProfessorProfessortrue1ProfessorProfessortrue1Associate ProfessorAssociate Professortrue1ProfessorProfessortrue1Associate ProfessorAssociate Professortrue1ProfessorProfessortrue1ProfessorProfessortrue1ProfessorProfessortrue1PROFESSORPROFESSORAuthorship 66378225482877Gavin-Smyth J, Ferguson ELFlyzen and the art of phenotypic maintenance: canalization of embryonic dorsal-ventral patterning in Drosophila. Fly (Austin). 2014; 8(3):170-5.Fly (Austin)2014-01-01T00:00:002014zen and the art of phenotypic maintenance: canalization of embryonic dorsal-ventral patterning in Drosophila.24184102Gavin-Smyth J, Wang YC, Butler I, Ferguson ELCurrent biology : CBA genetic network conferring canalization to a bistable patterning system in Drosophila. Curr Biol. 2013 Nov 18; 23(22):2296-2302.Curr Biol2013-10-31T00:00:002013A genetic network conferring canalization to a bistable patterning system in Drosophila.1010Chicago60637ILStatistics JohnReinitzxWdgBagBA8zMknJtY0fp/Cv/+94=John Reinitz0.000000000000000.000000000000002831Reinitz, JohnPROFESSORAuthorship 97781328005004Kwan CW, Gavin-Smyth J, Ferguson EL, Schmidt-Ott UeLifeFunctional evolution of a morphogenetic gradient. Elife. 2016 12 22; 5.Elife2016-12-22T00:00:002016Functional evolution of a morphogenetic gradient.