The centromere plays a fundamental role in accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotes. Its functions include sister chromatid adhesion and separation, microtubule attachment, chromosome movement, mitotic checkpoint control, and formation of heterochromatin. Although chromosome segregation errors cause genetic diseases including some cancers, the mechanism by which centromeres interact with microtubules of the spindle apparatus during cell division is not fully understood. To understand the molecular mechanism of chromosome segregation, we are currently studying on kinetochore assembly mechanism, spindle checkpoint function, and formation mechanism of heterochromatin structure near centromere.
　We are also interested in various mechanism of chromosome segregation during development of organisms. To understand the mechanism of chromosome segregation in the organismsal context, we are using mice genetics approach.

Hori, T., Amano, M., Suzuki, A., Backer, C., Welburn, J.P., Dong, Y., McEwen, B.F., Shang, W.H., Suzuki, E., Okawa, K., Cheeseman I.M., and Fukagawa, T. (2008). CCAN makes multiple contacts with centromeric DNA to provide distinct pathways to the outer kinetochore. Cell 135, 1039-1052.

Hori, T., Okada, M., Maenaka, K., and Fukagawa, T. (2008). CENP-O-class proteins form a stable complex and are required for proper kinetochore function. Mol. Biol. Cell 19, 843-854.

Kwon, M., Hori, T., Okada, M., and Fukagawa, T. (2007). CENP-C is involved in chromosome segregation, mitotic checkpoint function and kinetochore assembly. Mol. Biol. Cell 18, 2155-2168.

Okada, M., Cheeseman, I.M., Hori, T., Okawa, K., McLeod, I.X., Yates III, J.R., Desai, A. and Fukagawa, T. (2006). The CENP-H-I complex is required for the efficient incorporation of newly synthesized CENT-A into centromeres. Nature Cell Biol 8, 446-457.

Kline, S.L., Cheeseman, I.M., Hori, T., Fukagawa, T., and Desai, A. (2006). The human Mis12 complex is required for kinetochore assembly and proper chromosome segregation. J. Cell Biol. 173, 9-17.

Fukagawa, T., Nogami, M., Yoshikawa, M., Ikeno, M., Okazaki, T., Takami, Y., Nakayama, T., and Oshimura, M. (2004) Dicer is essential for formetion of the heterochromatin structure in vertebrate cells. Nature Cell Biol. 6, 784-791.