Jean-François Boisclair Lachance

Ratiometric sensing of Pnt and Yan transcription factor levels confers ultrasensitivity to photoreceptor fate transitions 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.

An unexpected bifurcation in the Pointed transcriptional effector network contributes specificity and robustness to retinal cell fate acquisition

The paper identifies a bifurcation in the Pnt effector network in Drosophila retina that contributes to cell fate specificity and robustness during photoreceptor specification.

Loss of function mutation of mouse Snap29 on a mixed genetic background phenocopy abnormalities found in CEDNIK and 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome patients

This study shows that a Snap29 loss-of-function mutation on a mixed genetic background in mice replicates multiple abnormalities seen in CEDNIK and 22q11.2DS patients, including skin, neurological, and fertility issues.

Cooperative recruitment of Yan to paired high affinity ETS sites organizes repression to confer specificity and robustness to cardiac cell fate specification

The paper shows that Yan's preference for high affinity ETS sites and their pairing ensures specific and robust repression during cardiac cell fate specification.