CMCB

Research Summary

Cell division is fundamental to the existence of life. A key part of this process involves the accurate separation of the chromosomes into the two daughter cells - a process called mitosis.

Chromosome movements require kinetochores, which are adaptive, multi-layered mechanochemical machines that assemble at the centromere of each sister chromatid and engage on their outer face with the plus ends of k-fibres, microtubule bundles that emanate from the spindle poles.

We envision the kinetochore as a set of interacting springs, clutches and motors and the problem of kinetochore mechanism as one of understanding how these functional modules assemble, disassemble and interact with one another to give rise to the emergent properties of the kinetochore.

Andrew McAinsh

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Samora, C.P.*, Mogessie, B.*, Conway, L., Ross, J.L., Straube, A. and McAinsh, A.D. (2011) MAP4 and CLASP1 operate as a safety mechanism to maintain a stable spindle position in mitosis.
Nature Cell Biology, 13: 1040-50

Amaro, A.C., Samora, C.P., Holtackers, R., Wang, E., Kingston, I., Alonso, M., Lampson, L., McAinsh, A.D. and Meraldi, P. (2010) Molecular control of kinetochore-microtubule dynamics and chromosome oscillation
Nature Cell Biology, 12: 319-329

*Jaqaman, K., *King, E., *Amaro, A.C., *Winter, J.R., Dorn, J.F., Elliott, H.L., Mchedlishvili, N., McClelland, S.E., Porter, I.M., Posch, M., Toso, A., Danuser, G., McAinsh, A.D., Meraldi, P. and Swedlow, J.R. (2010) Kinetochore alignment within the metaphase plate is regulated by centromere stiffness and microtubule depolymerases
Journal of Cell Biology, 188: 665-79

Braun, M., Drummond, D.R., Cross, R.A. and McAinsh, A.D. (2009)Klp2 organises microtubules into parallel bundles by an ATP-dependent sorting mechanism
Nature Cell Biology, 11: 724-730

*Toso, A., *Winter, J., Garrod, A.J., Amaro, A.C., Meraldi, P. and McAinsh, A.D. (2009) Kinetchore-generated pushing forces separate centrosomes during bipolar spindle assembly.
Journal Cell Biology, 184: 365-372

Catarina Samora | phd student | funded by FCT

My aim is to understand how kinetochore microtubule dynamics is regulated and how perturbations in this system affect the formation of a bipolar spindle and a stable metaphase plate. >more here

Elina Vladimirou | research fellow | funded by BBSRC

I am interested in investigating the mechanics that control chromosome directional instability during metaphase and anaphase using live-cell imaging, mathematical and computational tools. >more here

Ed Harry | phd student | funded by MOAC DTC

I am interested in chromosome mechanics and building a mathematical model of kinetochore oscillations. I will be using molecular biology / cell cloning techniques along with developing advanced image analysis algorithms to track kinetochores. I will then use this data to develop these models. >more here

James Bancroft | phd student | funded by MRC

I am focused on unlocking the role of the kinetochore proteins CENP-P and CENP-Q during mitosis. To do this I am using a combined approach including RNAi, fluorescent protein tagging, advanced widefield and confocal microscopy and biochemistry. >more here

Muriel Erent | research associate | funded by Marie Curie Cancer Care

I am interested in understanding the mechanisms of kinetochore-microtubule nucleation. Moreover, I want to understand how kinetochores then control the dynamics of these microtubules in order to move chromosomes during mitosis. >more here

Hauke Drechsler | research fellow | funded by Marie Curie Cancer Care

Here at the CMCB, I want to address the question of how and why the dependency on subsets of motors and microtubule associated proteins switches and rebalances as mitosis progresses. >more here

Program Grant | Marie Curie Cancer Care
Mechanisms of chromosome and spindle dynamics
£791,000 - 2009 to 2012

Research Grant | BBSRC
System-mechanics of the kinetochore: operating principles of a complex mechanochemical engine
£717,065 - 2012 to 2016

>> Summary | Plain english

>> Mitosis: Methods and Protocols - the book edited by Andrew: here

>> what happened to past lab members? here

>> current collaborations NEW

>> image gallery under construction...

>> software under construction...