IDENTIFICATION OF THE MOLECULAR PATHWAYS LINKING H2A.Z (H2AZ.1 and H2AZ.2) TO CHROMOSOME SEGREGATION FIDELITY

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Cell division is a fundamental process that is at the basis of our existence. From the single cell, about 37.2 trillion cells are generated to make up an adult human being. Divisions need to occur in an extremely accurate manner in order to produce daughter cells that are healthy and viable. Defects in cell division are at the basis of several human pathologies ranging from Down syndrome to cancer. Understanding how cell division occurs faithfully and how mistakes are avoided would lead us to better diagnostic tools and intervention opportunity to either prevent or cure some of these diseases. The key machinery for segregating the chromosomes during cell division is the centromere/kinetochore. This structure is composed of DNA and proteins that are directly linked to DNA and forms a special DNA structure at the centromere, which is essential for chromosome segregation. I recently identified some of these proteins that, when altered, compromise the fidelity of segregation. The project aims at identifying how these proteins work, how they contribute to maintain healthy cells for generations and what are the direct consequences when they mal-function. The outcome of this study would not only further our knowledge on the chromosome segregation machinery but also provide new possible targets for pharmacological interventions.