Research Interests
In our group we study the components and regulatory mechanisms of the mitotic machinery, and explore mechanisms by which problems in cell division can lead to cancer. We have been focusing our attention in two different aspects of mitosis: the chromosome attachment to the spindle (by analyzing the kinetochore function) and the completion of cell division (by studying genes involved in the execution of cytokinesis). Taking advantage of Drosophila genetics and human cultured cells, we have identified a set of new genes that when mutated result in chromosome missegregation, spindle assembly defects and abscission failure. We further showed that, when mutated, some of these genes cause the formation of tumors in Drosophila, and our main goal is to find if they are equally involved in human tumorigenesis.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Mitotic spindles in a Drosophila embryo
Human cells in culture. Chromosomes in dividing cells are painted red.
Recent projects
Mitotic Spindle Assembly and Function
how do cells assemble a funcional mitotic spindle and how do they dispose of it at the end of mitosis
Kinetochore Function
how do microtubules bind to microtubules.
The faithful transmission of genetic material during mitosis relies upon the connection between chromosomes and the mitotic spindle. This essential interaction is mediated by the kinetochore, a specialized protein structure that assembles on centromeric DNA. Severe defects in the kinetochores function result in chromosomes missegregation with possible consequent cell/organism death or the formation of cancer.
Knowing the structural characteristics of the kinetochore is therefore essential for the understanding of the spindle checkpoint and the regulation of chromosome segregation.
2018 - 2022
"Mechanisms of Chromosome Segregation"
ALG-01-0145-FEDER-030014 / PTDC/BIA-CEL/30014/2017
​
2014 - 2016
"Molecular determination of cytokinesis using CALI as a technique"
EXPL/BEX-BCM/1104/2013
2010 - 2013
"Role of Mob1 and Unc119 proteins in cytokinesis and tumorigenesis. ."
PTDC/SAU-OBD/105234/2008
2008 - 2010
"Molecular Determinants of Brain Size."
PTDC/SAU-NEU/81153/2006
2005 - 2008
“Characterisation of the mitotic checkpoint in Drosophila: function of the proteins Mps1 and CENP-ana.”
POCTI/BIA-PRO/60337/2004
Cytokinesis
how do cell cut themselfs in two.
Completion of cytokinesis is the final step of mitosis, and must be tightly regulated in order to ensure that it does not occur before chromosome segregation. In fact cytokinesis failure is increasingly recognized as an important source of genomic instability and, if unregulated, this process can lead to various cellular abnormalities, including cancer and birth defects. Nevertheless the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation and execution of cytokinesis are only beginning to emerge.
2003 - 2008
EU Research and Training Network
"Understanding the dynamics of cell division"
Acronym: “Spindle Dynamics “
2002 - 2005
"Structure and function of the centrosomal proteins HsMob in cell division"
POCTI/CBO/39099/2001
2001 - 2004
“Functional characterisation of the mitotic kinases DPlkk and DMps1.”
POCTI/BCI/41735/2001
Polo/Plk1 kinase function
how to identify specific substrates to a kinase that has multiple intracellular localizations.
2000 - 2003
"Structure and function of the centrosomal proteins HsMob in cell division"
POCTI/BCI/34405/99