Molecular grounds underlying chromosomal instability in cancers

Dear All,

Cell Signal Unit (Yamamoto Unit) would like to inform you of a seminar by Dr. Toru Hirota from Cancer Institute of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research.

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Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Time: 14:00-15:00

Venue: C016, Level C, Lab 1

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Speaker:

Dr. Toru Hirota, Cancer Institute of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research

Title:
Molecular grounds underlying chromosomal instability in cancers

Abstract:
Aneuploidy is a widespread feature of malignancies, which is primarily caused by an error in mitosis. The key to the chromosome segregation is the regulation of spindle-assembly checkpoint and activation of separase; however if and how these ‘brake’ and ‘engine’ are affected in cancers are not well understood. We aim to approach these questions by characterizing separase activation profile as cells traverse from metaphase to anaphase. A fluorescence-based probe for separase led us to find that the activity of separase is completely suppressed during metaphase until when it robustly undergoes an abrupt activation shortly before the anaphase onset, specifically in the vicinity of chromosomes. Molecular perturbation experiments indicate that this switch-like activation of separase is crucial to assure mitotic fidelity. Remarkably, we found that a wide range of cancer cells consistently have an altered activation profile. These observations may provide a previously unanticipated etiology for chromosome instability in cancers, which would facilitate a better design of mitotic interventions to control the disease.

Host:
Prof. Tadashi Yamamoto

We hope to see many of you at the seminar.

Best regards,

Yuki Nakagawa

Research Unit Administrator

Cell Signal Unit