Grant: Operating Grant

The human body is made of cells that proliferate by division, both during development and in adult life. Cell division is controlled by a complex network of molecules that dictate when and how to divide. Loss of this control can lead to excessive proliferation and errors that give rise to cancer. A molecular understanding of cell division allows the design of better therapies to treat cancer. Traditional drugs block cell division in mitosis, when the cell is preparing to partition its chromosomes. However, cancer cells can often exit this mitotic block and complete division, allowing cancer to progress. Therefore, an alternative strategy for cancer treatment would be to block the enzymes that directly promote entry into, or exit from, mitosis. However, their identity and the mechanisms by which these proteins function are unclear. This project will dissect the molecular mechanisms mediating mitotic entry and exit. Because the genes and proteins that control cell division are highly conserved between animal species, their study can be largely facilitated by the use of model organisms. We will use the fruitfly Drosophila with a combination of genetic, biochemical and microscopy approaches. The knowledge generated will enable the design of better drugs to stop cancer progression.