Grant: Project Grant

The ability of cells to divide is essential for the survival, development and reproduction of all living organisms. Moreover, defects in this process can lead to cancer. The genes and proteins that control cell division have been largely conserved between species during evolution. In this project, we will investigate how protein phosphatases function during mitosis (the division of the cellular nucleus). Phosphatase enzymes remove phosphate groups from substrate proteins to modify their activities. A subset of phosphatases are known to be essential for mitosis. However, the precise substrate proteins and molecular mechanisms they control are incompletely understood. Moreover, while phosphatases are considered potential drug targets for the treatment of human disease including cancer, selective inhibitors of these enzymes are lacking. We will use the fruit fly Drosophila as a model system to gain a better understanding of the precise functions of mitotic phosphatases in mitosis. We will also explore how blocking the ability of phosphatases to engage in interactions with their substrates can impact their functions. This project will increase our fundamental understanding of molecular mechanisms that are disrupted in cancer cells or that could be targeted to kill cancer cells.