Genes and gene products in comparative and applied endocrinology: Regulation of sexual differentiation, reproduction, growth and calcium mobilization in marine and freshwater invertebrates.

Crustacean models are employed in our laboratory for the study of genes and gene products related to processes of sexual differentiation and skeletal bio-mineralization. In particular, we study the endocrine regulation by steroids and insulin-like androgenic gland factors of sexual differentiation, gonad maturation, growth, molt and the related processes of calcium mobilization and bio-mineralization. Control of the above events will enable the development of biotechnological tools for crop improvement via monosex culturing, soft shell-based products as well as for human food additives and drugs.

Shpak, N., Manor, R., Aflalo, E.D., Sagi, A., 2017. Three generations of cultured prawn without W chromosome. Aquaculture, 467(C):41-48.

Levy, T., Rosen, O., Eilam, B., Azulay, D., Aflalo, E. D., Manor, R., Shechter, A. and Sagi, A., 2016. A single injection of hypertrophied androgenic gland cells produces all-female aquaculture. Marine Biotechnology, 18(5):554-563.

Bentov, S., Aflalo, E.D., Tynyakov, J., Glazer L. and Sagi, A. 2016. Calcium phosphate mineralization is widely applied in crustacean mandibles. Scientific Reports, 6:22118.

Sharabi, O., Manor, R., Weil, S., Aflalo, E. D., Lezer, Y., Levy, T., Aizen, J., Ventura, T., Mather, P. B., Khalaila, I. and Sagi, A. 2016. Identification and characterization of an insulin-like receptor involved in crustacean reproduction. Endocrinology, 157(2): 928-941.

Glazer L., Roth Z., Weil S., Aflalo E.D., Khalaila I. and Sagi A. 2015. Proteomic analysis of the crayfish gastrolith chitinous extracellular matrix reveals putative protein complexes and a central role for GAP 65. Journal of Proteomics, 128:333-343.

Ph.D. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1989.

President, International Society for Invertebrate Reproduction and Development (ISIRD).
Lily and Sidney Oelbaum Chair in Applied Biochemistry.
Member the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN ).
Founder Amorphical Ltd.
Former dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.