Vincent Archambault
The eukaryotic cell division cycle and mitosis in particular are coordinated by conserved protein kinases, of which the cyclin-dependent kinases, Aurora A, Aurora B and Polo are the most central.
Polo is required in mitosis for centrosome maturation, for establishing a bipolar spindle, for the spindle attachment checkpoint, for sister chromatid cohesion removal in prophase and for cytokinesis, among other functions. During M phase, Polo localizes to centrosomes, microtubules, kinetochores and the mid-body.
In order to better understand its molecular functions and the pathways it regulates, I am identifying genetic and physical interactions involving Polo in Drosophila melanogaster. polo genetically interacts with another kinase gene identified by the Scott of the antarctic (Scant) mutation; Scant mutant females that also carry one mutant polo allele lay embryos that abort in their development, showing aberrant mitotic spindles with dissociated centrosomes. I am exploring the molecular basis of this cellular phenotype.
In addition, I am involved in collaborative projects that use a proteomic approach to tackle the molecular mechanisms of cell division. We are building cell lines expressing tagged versions of proteins of interest, allowing their co-purification along with interacting proteins that can then be identified by mass spectrometry.
Areas of interest:- Cell cycle kinases
- Mitosis
- Chromosome condensation
- Proteomics
- polo
- Scott of the antarctic (Scant)
Dr. Vincent Archambault
Address:
Department of Genetics,
University of Cambridge,
Downing Street,
Cambridge,
CB2 3EH,
England.
Email:
va228@
mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
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