Where Art Meets Science: Jaymes Quinn's Summer in the Hehnly Lab

This summer, the Hehnly Lab welcomed Jaymes Quinn, an undergraduate from UMass Amherst, as a visiting student through MicroFFABS, Syracuse University's Biology Department REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program focused on microscopy. Over the course of his time in the lab, Jaymes asked: how does the body know its left from its right?

Jaymes's project, "How Does the Function of the Left-Right Organizer Set Up Organ Asymmetry?", focused on the Kupffer's vesicle — a fluid-filled structure in zebrafish embryos that acts as the left-right organizer (LRO). This tiny organ is responsible for kicking off the signals that tell a developing embryo which side is which, ultimately shaping how organs like the heart get positioned correctly in the body.

Working alongside Prabhu Sankaralingam (postdoc) and PI Heidi Hehnly, Jaymes investigated how centrosome core components — specifically proteins called Pericentrin (pent) and Cenexin (cnxn) — regulate the structure and ciliogenesis of the Kupffer's vesicle. Using immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and careful scoring of spaw (southpaw) expression patterns, Jaymes and the team pieced together how defects at the centrosome level can throw off the entire left-right patterning process.

Jaymes brought his background in illustration into the lab, hand-drawing figures that walked viewers through the biology: stylized embryos, cilia, and vesicles that made a genuinely complex topic approachable at a glance. He presented this work at a combined summer research festival for undergrads at SUNY ESF, SUNY Upstate, and Syracuse University.

Thanks to Jaymes Quinn, Prabhu Sankaralingam, and the entire Hehnly Lab for a great summer of research.

Speaking at Mount Sinai's Department of Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology

On May 21st Dr. Hehnly gave an invited talk at Mount Sinai's Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, hosted by Dr. Sergei Sokol. The seminar presented work from two members of the lab — Favour Ononiwu, Yiling Lan and Prabhu Sankaralingam — focused on centrosome dynamics and the consequences of centrosome protein loss in the zebrafish embryo.

The zebrafish embryo offers a powerful window into early cell division, and this work addresses how the centrosome is regulated during those critical first stages of development. 

Dr. Hehnly had a great time visiting the Department and Central Park!

Our Lab at the NY Zebrafish Meeting

At this year’s NY-area zebrafish conference, our group was well represented by Prabhu, Albert, Amy, and Joey—each contributing in distinct and meaningful ways.

Prabhu delivered an engaging and well-received talk on the role of the centrosome in Left-Right Organizer function.

Albert presented a poster focused on vEM approaches in zebrafish embryos, showcasing detailed structural analyses and methodological advances.

Joey and Amy, attending their first NY area zebrafish-focused meeting.

(Photo of Prabhu included below.)

Lab Highlights from ASCB 2025 in Philadelphia

This December, members of the Hehnly Lab traveled to Philadelphia to present their work at the 2025 American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Meeting.

Yan Wu presented her poster, “Mitotically driven cytoskeletal reorganization governs zebrafish left–right organizer detachment from the EVL and lumen morphogenesis.” This work highlights how dynamic mitotic events shape tissue architecture during early embryogenesis and reflects a major collaborative effort within the lab. In addition to Yan’s leadership on the project, Yiling Lan and summer undergraduate Miriam Athena Allred made substantial experimental and conceptual contributions, with additional contributions from Carys Timpson during her summer research period.

Yiling Lan also presented his work, “Developmental stage–specific centrosome remodeling by cenexin–pericentrin in vertebrate embryogenesis,” which explores how centrosome composition and organization are developmentally regulated to support morphogenesis. While at ASCB, Yiling had the opportunity to reconnect with former lab member Erin Curtis, now completing her PhD jointly at MIT and Duke— a reminder of the extended scientific community that grows from shared training experiences.

We were also excited to have Albert Adhya attend ASCB as he begins his journey in the lab. For Albert, the meeting served as an immersive introduction to the broader cell biology community and an opportunity to see firsthand how scientific ideas are communicated and refined. The group capped off the meeting with a celebratory dinner at Morimoto—an excellent way to mark a successful and energizing conference.