Sebastian M. Bernasek

The paper investigates how energy metabolism affects the regulatory impact of activators on gene expression using a mathematical model and experimental validation in Drosophila.

The paper shows that a two-fold change in the Pnt/Yan transcription factor ratio drives photoreceptor fate transitions in Drosophila eye progenitor cells, revealing a mechanism for ultrasensitivity.

Fly-QMA automates the analysis of mosaic imaginal discs in Drosophila by segmenting cells, annotating clones, and quantifying gene expression changes.

The paper shows that layered weak repression synchronizes developmental gene regulation with cellular metabolism, and that reducing metabolism can compensate for loss of repressors.