Drosophila Ribosomal Protein Mutants Control Tissue Growth Non-Autonomously via Effects on the Prothoracic Gland and Ecdysone

The ribosome is critical for all aspects of cell growth due to its essential role in protein synthesis. Paradoxically, many Ribosomal proteins (Rps) act as tumour suppressors in Drosophila and vertebrates. To examine how reductions in Rps could lead to tissue overgrowth, we took advantage of the observation that an RpS6 mutant dominantly suppresses the small rough eye phenotype in a cyclin E hypomorphic mutant (cycEJP). We demonstrated that the suppression of cycEJP by the RpS6 mutant is not a consequence of restoring CycE protein levels or activity in the eye imaginal tissue. Rather, the use of UAS-RpS6 RNAi transgenics revealed that the suppression of cycEJP is exerted via a mechanism extrinsic to the eye, whereby reduced Rp levels in the prothoracic gland decreases the activity of ecdysone, the steroid hormone, delaying developmental timing and hence allowing time for tissue and organ overgrowth. These data provide for the first time a rationale to explain the counter-intuitive organ overgrowth phenotypes observed for certain members of the Minute class of Drosophila Rp mutants. They also demonstrate how Rp mutants can affect growth and development cell non-autonomously

Unsettled : re-imagining positionality and place

12 A4 pages in pdf format. Includes bibliographical references.Inaugural address delivered by Prof Cherryl Walker on 8 May 2007

Disassembling the Square Kilometre Array: astronomy and development in South Africa

The article poses questions about astronomy and its local, national and global developmental impacts, drawing on ongoing research around the internationally networked Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope in South Africa. The relationship between progress in global science and technology and societal change has traditionally been framed through western-centric notions of progress imbued with universalism; the field of astronomy exemplifies this approach, with its assumptions of an inherently positive correlation between its science and loosely defined notions of ‘development’. We problematise this assumption through an analysis of the multiple notions of development at different scales of analysis in the SKA. We argue that large astronomy projects such as the SKA are best understood as dense assemblages of science, infrastructure, human agency and politics, in which historically rooted local concerns are marginalised in the name of the national or global public interest

Women's studies and the women's movement in South Africa. Defining a relationship

Women's Studies in South Africa has recently been subjected to three main clusters of criticism by black academics and activists: (a) the underrepresentation of black women academics, (b) allegations about white academics' misappropriation and misrepresentation of black women's experience, and (c) questions about the accountability of academics to their subjects of study and/ or the broader women's movement. The intensity of this 'representation debate' is fuelled by the need for Women's Studies to define its relationship to a women's movement that is emerging more strongly out of the national liberation movement but is still marginalised within national politics. The authors argue that while it is essential for white academics to take black accusations of racism and ethnocentrism seriously, black academics and activists must confront the divisions of class and culture among black women and recognise the particular character of academic work. Experience is not the only source of understanding. However, for research to be feminist, there must be a broad political commitment. With this commitment, feminist academics form one, nonhegemonic component of the alliance of different constituencies that make up the women's movement