Research Groups > Epigenetics Cell Cycle

Cells have the extraordinary ability to replicate. This property makes them the most complex entities known to exist and it is the essence of life itself. The study of the cell cycle addresses fundamental processes of life while dealing with very sophisticated mechanisms. Our cells inherit their genetic information in the form of chromosomes during mitosis from a mother cell. Following DNA replication in S-phase, chromosomes are linked together (sister chromatid cohesion), compacted (chromosome condensation), untangled and then moved to opposite poles of the cell (segregation). All these events are coordinated and executed with astonishing precision to prevent aneuploidy, a condition of inappropriate chromosome number. Most aneuploid human embryos are not viable, and if they are they develop severe birth defects. Aneuploidies later in human life are often found associated with the development of malignant cancer.

Figure 1. Chromosome segregation of telomeric regions is impaired in smc6-9 mutants during mitotic division. Representative micrographs show nuclear mass (red), chromosome tags (green) inserted either at the MET6 locus or telomere V, and Spindle Pole Body (blue) in chromosome arms (a, b) and telomeres (c, d).

The objective of the Cell Cycle Group is to understand the molecular mechanisms orchestrating the equal and faithful segregation of chromosomes during cellular division. Work is focused on the analysis of protein complexes that mediate chromosome structure and segregation, namely cohesin, condensin and a novel complex, the 'SMC5/SMC6'. We are also interested in regulatory networks that operate during cellular divisions. Presently, we employ yeast as a model organism in our efforts to unravel the controls that govern chromosome segregation and cell cycle progression.