Recently, coacting (or shadow) enhancers have been identified at a growing number of critical developmental genes in Drosophilaand other species. A key question in modern developmental biology is how the architecture of multiple functional TF binding sites is organized in these coacting enhancers to control their precise output. The goal of this project is to use mathematical modeling approaches to decipher the mechanisms at play within individual enhancers, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind interactions between the enhancers. We are employing a number of different mathematical frameworks to try to answer the underlying question of why and how coacting enhancers work together to ensure robust gene expression during Drosophila development.
