Victoria Prince

My lab studies axial patterning of the vertebrate embryo. We use a combination of genetic, molecular, and cellular approaches to address how specific regions of the body are patterned and the evolution of these patterning processes. We primarily make use of the zebrafish (Danio rerio), as the embryos are accessible from the earliest stages, have complete optical clarity, and provide an excellent genetic system. Ongoing projects are (1) Studies on hindbrain patterning and neuronal identity, in particular focusing on the Hox genes. (2) Comparative projects investigating how Hox gene function has evolved within vertebrates. (3) Projects to investigate how the developing endoderm is regionalized to produce specific organs such as the pancreas.

My lab studies axial patterning of the vertebrate embryo. We use a combination of genetic, molecular, and cellular approaches to address how specific regions of the body are patterned and the evolution of these patterning processes. We primarily make use of the zebrafish (Danio rerio), as the embryos are accessible from the earliest stages, have complete optical clarity, and provide an excellent genetic system. Ongoing projects are (1) Studies on hindbrain patterning and neuronal identity, in particular focusing on the Hox genes. (2) Comparative projects investigating how Hox gene function has evolved within vertebrates. (3) Projects to investigate how the developing endoderm is regionalized to produce specific organs such as the pancreas.

Kinkel MD and Prince VE (2009). On the diabetic menu: Zebrafish as a model for pancreas development and function. Bioessays in press 

Kinkel MD, Eames SC, Alonzo MA and Prince VE (2008). Cdx4 has multiple roles in pancreas development and is required in the endoderm to correctly localize the foregut. Development 135: 919-929 

Elsen GE, Choi LY, Millen KJ, Grinblat Y and Prince VE. (2008). Zic1 and Zic4 regulate zebrafish roof plate specification and hindbrain ventricle morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 314: 376-392. 

Rohrschneider, MR, Elsen, GE and Prince, VE. (2007). Zebrafish Hoxb1a regulates multiple downstream targets including prickle1b. Developmental Biology 309, 358-372. 

Hurley IA, Mueller RL, Dunn, KA, Schmidt EJ, Friedman M, Ho RK, Prince VE, Yang Z, Thomas MG and Coates MI. (2007). A New Time-scale for Ray-Finned Fish Evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 274, 489-498. 

Skromne I, Thorsen D, Hale M, Prince VE and Ho, RK. (2007). Repression of the hindbrain developmental program by Cdx factors is required for the specification of the vertebrate spinal cord. Development 134, 2147-2158. 

Ward, AB, Warga, RM and Prince VE. (2007). Origin of the zebrafish endocrine and exocrine pancreas. Developmental Dynamics 236, 1558-1569. 

Stafford D, White R, Kinkel, M, Linville A Schilling TF and Prince VE. (2006). Retinoids signal directly to zebrafish endoderm to specify insulin-expressing β-cells. Development 133, 949-956. 

Hale M, Kheirbek M, Schriefer JE, and Prince VE. (2004). The function of Mauthner cell duplicates in startle behavior: Insights into the evolution of new neural circuits. J. Neurosci. 24, 3070-3076. 

Hunter, M. P. and Prince, V. E. (2002). Zebrafish hox paralogue group 2 genes function redundantly as selector genes to pattern the second pharyngeal arch. Dev Biol 247: 367-89. 

Moens, C. B. and Prince, V. E. (2002). Constructing the hindbrain: insights from the zebrafish. Dev Dyn 224: 1-17. 

Stafford, D. and Prince, V. E. (2002). Retinoic acid signaling is required for a critical early step in zebrafish pancreatic development. Curr Biol 12: 1215-20. 

Kinkel MD and Prince VE (2009). On the diabetic menu: Zebrafish as a model for pancreas development and function. Bioessays in press 

Kinkel MD, Eames SC, Alonzo MA and Prince VE (2008). Cdx4 has multiple roles in pancreas development and is required in the endoderm to correctly localize the foregut. Development 135: 919-929 

Elsen GE, Choi LY, Millen KJ, Grinblat Y and Prince VE. (2008). Zic1 and Zic4 regulate zebrafish roof plate specification and hindbrain ventricle morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 314: 376-392. 

Rohrschneider, MR, Elsen, GE and Prince, VE. (2007). Zebrafish Hoxb1a regulates multiple downstream targets including prickle1b. Developmental Biology 309, 358-372. 

Hurley IA, Mueller RL, Dunn, KA, Schmidt EJ, Friedman M, Ho RK, Prince VE, Yang Z, Thomas MG and Coates MI. (2007). A New Time-scale for Ray-Finned Fish Evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 274, 489-498.