Tamar Sztal
Rm 403, Bio21 Institute
University of Melbourne
Phone: +61 3 8344 2360
Fax: +61 3 9347 5352
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The focus of my work is to characterise the function of a number cytochrome P450 genes involved in insect development.  In Drosophila, certain P450s have been shown to possess endogenous roles including the synthesis of ecdysone, an essential insect hormone.  However out of the 85 P450 genes found in the Drosophila genome, the function of most are unknown.  Our aim is to use a combination of molecular techniques in Drosophila to try and understand the role of many of these genes.  We are particularly concerned with those that are highly evolutionarily conserved and that are expressed in functionally important biological tissues, potentially indicating a crucial role in development.

Sztal, T., Chung, H., Gramzow, L., Daborn P.J., Batterham, P. and Robin, C. (2007). Two independent duplications forming the Cyp307a genes in Drosophila. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 37, 1044-1053