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Division of Molecular Genetics • Fukagawa Group

Structure and function of chromosomes in higher vertebrate cells

Professor 　　　　　　FUKAGAWA, Tatsuo 　tfukagaw
Assistant Professor 　 HORI, Tetsuya　　　 thori
Assistant Professor NISHINO, Tatsuya　　 tnishino

Homepage URL : http://www.nig.ac.jp/labs/MolGene/

　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 organismal context, we are using mice genetics approach.

Chromosome morphology and α-tubulin staining (green) in control (CENP-W ON or CENP-T ON), CENP-W- (CENP-W OFF) and CENP-T (CENP-T OFF)-deficient DT40 cells. Chromosome was counterstained with DAPI (Blue). Control cells show the normal staining pattern for α-tubulin (upper two panels). Mis-aligned hypercondensed chromosomes at the metaphase plate were detected in CENP-Wand CENP-T-deficient cells

Shang, W.H., Hori, T., Toyoda, A., Kato, J., Popendorf, K., Sakakibara, Y., Fujiyama, A., and Fukagawa, T. (2010). Chickens possess centromeres with both extended tandem repeats and short non-tandem-repetitive sequences. Genome Res. 20, 1219-1228.

Ohta, S., Bukowski-Wills, J.C., Sanchez-Pulido, L., Alves Fde, L., Wood, L., Chen, Z.A., Platani, M., Fischer, L., Hudson, D.F., Ponting, C.P., Fukagawa, T., Earnshaw, W.C., and Rappsilber, J. (2010). The protein composition of mitotic chromosomes determined using multiclassifier combinatorial proteomics. Cell 142, 810-821.

Amano, M., Suzuki, A., Hori, T., Backer, C., Okawa, K., Cheeseman, I.M., and Fukagawa, T. (2009). The CENP-S complex is essential for the stable assembly of outer kinetochore structure. J. Cell Biol. 186, 173-182.

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.

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.


Professor Tatsuo Fukagawa tfukagaw	Assistant Professor Tetsuya Hori thori	Assistant Professor Tatsuya Nishino tnishino

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