Guy Tanentzapf, University of British Columbia

Research

Drosophila Genetics Integrin Morphogenesis Adhesion Extracellular Matrix Cell Adhesion Cell Biology

Latest papers

Sex differences in the regulation and function of cellular immunity in Drosophila.
PLoS genetics · 2026 · senior author
A TRPV4-dependent calcium signaling axis regulates lamellipodial actin architecture to promote cell migration.
Current biology : CB · 2026
Defining the role of integrins in melanoblast migration in vivo.
Molecular biology of the cell · 2025 · senior author

All 48 publications

Latest funding

Mechanisms of regulation of Cell-Matrix adhesion in development and disease
CIHR · 2023 · Nominated PI
$933,300
The regulation of Cell-Matrix Adhesion in mouse development and tissue homeostasis
CIHR · 2019 · Nominated PI
$921,825
Genetic analysis of the cell biological basis of sperm morphogenesis.
NSERC · 2018 · Principal investigator
$414,000

All 12 grants and awards

48 publications.

01

Sex differences in the regulation and function of cellular immunity in Drosophila.

Dvoskin A, Ho KYL, Allara M, Janz N, Rideout E, Girard JR, Tanentzapf G

PLoS genetics2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1012151 PMID: 42430458

02

A TRPV4-dependent calcium signaling axis regulates lamellipodial actin architecture to promote cell migration.

Iu E, Bogatch A, Deng W, Humphries JD, Yang C, Valencia FR, Li C, McCulloch CA, Tanentzapf G, Svitkina TM, Humphries MJ, Plotnikov SV

Current biology : CB2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2026.01.024 PMID: 41650966

03

Defining the role of integrins in melanoblast migration in vivo.

Deng W, Tanentzapf G

Molecular biology of the cell2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e25-02-0066 PMID: 40928940

04

Talin autoinhibition is required for normal hemostasis.

Venkatesh B, Golla K, Hong F, Haage A, Kim H, Tanentzapf G

Platelets2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1080/09537104.2025.2555197 PMID: 40916946

05

Automated detection of spontaneous calcium signaling events in prohemocytes of the Drosophila melanogaster lymph gland.

Zhu X, Smith MVE, Tanentzapf G

microPublication biology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001883 PMID: 41328327

06

Inside-out integrin activation is essential for early mammalian development.

Venkatesh B, Phelan A, Tanentzapf G

Molecular biology of the cell2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e25-03-0106 PMID: 40901728

07

Consolidation of cell-ECM adhesion through direct talin-mediated actin linkage is essential for mouse embryonic morphogenesis.

Deng W, Carr RL, Kaul RR, Pavlova-Deb M, Haage A, Roca-Cusachs P, Tanentzapf G

Communications biology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08294-3 PMID: 40544224

08

A TRPV4-dependent calcium signaling axis governs lamellipodial actin architecture to promote cell migration.

Iu E, Bogatch A, Deng W, Humphries JD, Yang C, Valencia FR, Li C, McCulloch CA, Tanentzapf G, Svitkina TM, Humphries MJ, Plotnikov SV

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2025

DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.28.646012 PMID: 40196692

09

Novel features of Drosophila hematopoiesis uncovered by long-term live imaging.

Ho KYL, Ou AYJ, Samuelson N, Tanentzapf G

Developmental biology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.10.004 PMID: 39536928

10

AdamTS proteases control basement membrane heterogeneity and organ shape in Drosophila.

Töpfer U, Ryu J, Guerra Santillán KY, Schulze J, Fischer-Friedrich E, Tanentzapf G, Dahmann C

Cell reports2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114399 PMID: 38944833

Mechanisms of regulation of Cell-Matrix adhesion in development and disease

Nominated PICIHR2023Project Grant

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

Keywords: Cell Adhesion; Cell Biology; Developmental Biology; Drosophila; Extracellular Matrix; Genetics; Integrin; Morphogenesis; Quantitative Imaging; Rare Disease

$933,300

The regulation of Cell-Matrix Adhesion in mouse development and tissue homeostasis

Nominated PICIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

Keywords: Cell Adhesion; Cell Biology; Cell Migration; Cytoskeleton; Developmental Biology; Ecm; Genetics; Integrin; Morphogenesis; Talin

$921,825

Genetic analysis of the cell biological basis of sperm morphogenesis.

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

$414,000

Regulation of Stem-Cell niche interactions in the hematopoietic system by occluding and gap junctions.

Nominated PICIHR2017Project Grant

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

Keywords: Cell Adhesion; Cell Biology; Cell Junctions; Developmental Biology; Drosophila; Gap Junctions; Genetics; Model Organism; Stem Cell Niche; Stem Cells

$768,825

A FRAP on TIRF superresolution microscopy system for bioimaging

Co-investigatorNSERC2016Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Wasteneys, Geoffrey

$96,867

Functional analysis of Cell-ECM adhesion during Dorsal Closure using quantitative imaging and mathematical modeling

SupervisorCIHR2015Undergraduate: Summer Studentship Award - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Meng, Steven X

Keywords: Cell-Ecm Adhesion; Cellular Adhesion; Dorsal Closure; Mathematical Modelling; Quantitative Image Analysis; Tissue Morphogenesis

$5,000

The genetic basis of the long-term maintenance of muscle function in animals.

Principal investigatorNSERC2013Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

$290,000

Analysis of of Soma-Germline interactions in the fly testes.

Nominated PICIHR2012Maud Menten New Principal Investigator Prize - Biomedical

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

Keywords: Adhesion; Cytoskeleton; Differentiation; Drosophila; Gap Junctions; Genetics; Germline; Spermatogenesis; Stem Cells; Tumor

$1,000

Analysis of of Soma-Germline interactions in the fly testes.

Nominated PICIHR2012Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

Keywords: Adhesion; Cytoskeleton; Differentiation; Drosophila; Gap Junctions; Genetics; Germline; Spermatogenesis; Stem Cells; Tumor

$762,180

In vivo analysis of integrin function in tissue maintenance and morphogenesis

Nominated PICIHR2012Operating Grant - PA: IMHA New investigators - Bridge Funding

Principal investigators: Tanentzapf, Guy

Keywords: Adhesion; Blood Cell; Drosophila; Epithelial Cell; Extracellular Matrix; Imaging; Integrin; Morphogenesis; Protein Turnover; Wound Healing

$100,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Cellular and Physiological Sciences
Microbiology and Immunology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Medical Genetics
Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Chemistry
Oral Biological & Medical Sciences
Other

Co-authors at University of British Columbia, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Daniel Coombs

Microbiology and Immunology

3 shared papers, latest 2016

Filip Van Petegem

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

3 shared papers, latest 2022

Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2017

Elizabeth Rideout

Cellular and Physiological Sciences

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Louis Lefebvre

Medical Genetics

2 shared papers, latest 2020

Sergey Plotnikov

Cell and Systems Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2018

Hugh Kim

Oral Biological & Medical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Drosophila Dear Professor Tanentzapf, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Sex differences in the regulation and function of cellular immunity in Drosophila." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Mechanisms of regulation of Cell-Matrix adhesion in development and disease" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Guy Tanentzapf

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Sex differences in the regulation and function of cellular immunity in Drosophila.

A TRPV4-dependent calcium signaling axis regulates lamellipodial actin architecture to promote cell migration.

Defining the role of integrins in melanoblast migration in vivo.

Talin autoinhibition is required for normal hemostasis.

Automated detection of spontaneous calcium signaling events in prohemocytes of the Drosophila melanogaster lymph gland.

Inside-out integrin activation is essential for early mammalian development.

Consolidation of cell-ECM adhesion through direct talin-mediated actin linkage is essential for mouse embryonic morphogenesis.

A TRPV4-dependent calcium signaling axis governs lamellipodial actin architecture to promote cell migration.

Novel features of Drosophila hematopoiesis uncovered by long-term live imaging.

AdamTS proteases control basement membrane heterogeneity and organ shape in Drosophila.

Mechanisms of regulation of Cell-Matrix adhesion in development and disease

The regulation of Cell-Matrix Adhesion in mouse development and tissue homeostasis

Genetic analysis of the cell biological basis of sperm morphogenesis.

Regulation of Stem-Cell niche interactions in the hematopoietic system by occluding and gap junctions.

A FRAP on TIRF superresolution microscopy system for bioimaging

Functional analysis of Cell-ECM adhesion during Dorsal Closure using quantitative imaging and mathematical modeling

The genetic basis of the long-term maintenance of muscle function in animals.

Analysis of of Soma-Germline interactions in the fly testes.

Analysis of of Soma-Germline interactions in the fly testes.

In vivo analysis of integrin function in tissue maintenance and morphogenesis

Frequent collaborators

Daniel Coombs

Filip Van Petegem

Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez

Elizabeth Rideout

Louis Lefebvre

Hongbin Li

Sergey Plotnikov

Hugh Kim