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How do cells get the right number of chromosomes?

This is a critical question because all tumor cells have the wrong number of chromosomes and are aneuploid. In addition, many birth defects result from aneuploidy. Our lab is therefore studying the process of chromosome segregation to understand how cells faithfully maintain their genome during every cell division. Chromosome segregation is directed by the kinetochore, a protein structure that assembles at a single site on each chromosome. The kinetochore binds to the microtubules that compose the mitotic spindle and physically pull chromosomes into daughter cells. It is essential that every chromosome form a single kinetochore during every cell cycle, but how this occurs is still not known. We are therefore studying the assembly and function of kinetochores as well as the roles of certain genes that regulate kinetochores.& We are also studying other aspects of chromosome segregation such as mitotic spindle assembly and spindle positioning to better understand the multiple mechanisms that ensure cells get the right number of chromosomes. We use budding yeast as a model system because chromosome segregation is a highly conserved process.

Ipl/aurora protein kinase		Cse4 histone variant