Molecular genetic analysis of regulatory networks governing cytokinesis

为了让一个细胞产生另一个细胞，它必须能够复制其遗传物质，然后将其平均分裂为两个独立的子细胞。这一过程的最后一个关键步骤--母细胞在物理上被分成两个不同的实体--称为胞质分裂。胞质分裂是通过使用在细胞内侧区域形成的环状结构来实现的。一旦收到正确的信号，这个环就会以如此大的力量收缩，以至于它能够将细胞分裂成两个。有趣的是，研究表明，细胞能够监测环的收缩，而且已经有了机制来帮助维持这个结构的物理完整性。这个系统被用来促进细胞质分裂的成功完成，即使细胞受到可能扰乱其正常功能的压力。一般而言，该研究计划涉及确保环以忠实和可靠的方式形成和收缩所需的基因和蛋白质。目前感兴趣的是一种特定的蛋白质，它通过影响一种关键的细胞调节因子来促进细胞质分裂的成功完成，该调节器涉及决定细胞中哪些基因的开启或关闭。更重要的是，其他人的工作已经表明，至少在小鼠身上，由异常胞质分裂产生的细胞(即环未能收缩的细胞)更有可能在其遗传物质中积累错误，从而更有可能发展为癌症肿瘤。尽管我们的工作将以相对简单的模式生物--一种被称为裂殖酵母的单细胞酵母菌--进行，但希望这项研究将提供一个理论框架，用于在更复杂的生物(如人类)中研究这种现象。

In order for a single cell to give rise to another, it must be able to replicate its genetic material, and then divide it equally into two independent daughter cells.  The last crucial step of this process - where the mother cell is physically separated into two distinct entities - is called cytokinesis.  Cytokinesis is achieved through the use of a ring-like structure that forms in the medial region of the cell. Upon receiving the proper signals, this ring constricts with such force that it is able to "cleave" the cell into two.  Interestingly, research has shown that cells are able to monitor the constriction of the ring, and furthermore that mechanisms are in place to help maintain the physical integrity of this structure. This system is used to promote the successful completion of cytokinesis even when cells are subjected to stresses that might perturb their normal function.  Broadly speaking, the research program concerns the genes and proteins required to ensure that the ring forms and constricts in a faithful and dependable manner.  Of current interest is a specific protein that promotes the successful completion of cytokinesis by influencing a critical cellular regulator that is involved in determining which genes in a cell are turned on or off.    Importantly, the work of others has shown, at least in the case of the mouse, that cells resulting from aberrant cytokinesis (i.e. cells in which the ring has failed to constrict) are much more likely to accumulate errors in their genetic material, and thus have a higher probability of developing into cancerous tumours.  Although our work will be conducted with a relatively simple model organism - a unicellular yeast referred to as Schizosaccharomyces pombe - it is hoped that this research will provide a theoretical framework from which to study this phenomenon in more complex organisms such as humans.