The MADF-BESS family of transcription factors in Drosophila melanogaster were used to understand Gene Duplication and subsequent sub-functionalization. Two studies, carried out by Vallari Shukla appeared to confirm functional redundancy in the family in the wing hinge as aslo in the female GSC lineage.

Stonewall and Brickwall: Two Partially Redundant Determinants Required for the Maintenance of Female Germline in Drosophila.

Shukla V, Dhiman N, Nayak P, Dahanukar N, Deshpande G, Ratnaparkhi GS.

G3 (Bethesda). 2018 May 31;8(6):2027-2041. doi: 10.1534/g3.118.200192.

Gene duplication, lineage-specific expansion, and subfunctionalization in the MADF-BESS family patterns the Drosophila wing hinge.

Shukla V, Habib F, Kulkarni A, Ratnaparkhi GS.

Genetics. 2014 Feb;196(2):481-96. doi: 10.1534/genetics.113.160531. Epub 2013 Dec 13.

Hydra is an excellent model for studying regeneration. We were interested in SUMO conjugation in Hydra and generated a SUMO:GFP transgenic in 2010.  However, the difficulty in generating gain-of-function and loss-of function alleles in animals lead us to reluctantly stop working on this fantastic organism. 

The Hydra small ubiquitin-like modifier.

Khan U, Mehere P, Deivasigamani S, Ratnaparkhi GS.

Genesis. 2013 Sep;51(9):619-29. doi: 10.1002/dvg.22408. Epub 2013 Jul 23.

A collaboration with Varada Abhyankar/Deepti Deobagkar at University of Pune. Though we are not working on Mt2 anymore, the finding of 'sickle' blood cells and the lipidomics, executed using Siddhesh Kamat's expertise were highlights of this project.

Drosophila DNA/RNA methyltransferase contributes to robust host defense in aging animals by regulating sphingolipid metabolism.

Abhyankar V/Kaduskar B, Kamat SS, Deobagkar D, Ratnaparkhi GS.

J Exp Biol. 2018 Nov 16;221(Pt 22):jeb187989. doi: 10.1242/jeb.187989.