Dawn Yu
Centrosomes are the microtubule organising centers in most eukaryotic cells. Misregulation of centrosome duplication often leads to formation of abnormal mitotic spindles and subsequent genomic instability. We are trying to understand the mechanisms of centriole duplication. Previous study in our lab has shown that Drosophila PLK4/SAK kinase is a master regulator in centriole duplication. In collaboration with another two members in the Glover lab, Nikola Dzhindzhev and Kipp Weiskopf, We discovered a protein is required for the recruitment of PLK4/SAK to the centrosomes. Depletion of this protein leads to loss of centrosomes in Drosophila Dmel cells, whereas over-expression of this protein promotes centrosome over-duplication, both in cells and fly embryos. We found out that this protein binds to PLK4/SAK directly. The binding domain of both interactors has also been mapped. Unexpectedly, the binding domain of PLK4/SAK for this particular ligand is not via its polo box motif, this suggests that PLK4/SAKmay have multiple interacting sites for both upstream and downstream regulators. I am now trying to purify the binding domain of PLK4/SAK and the protein ligand of interest. The protein complex will be purified and used in crystallisation trials. A crystallographic study would then solve the structure of the binding domains. I am also in position to search further interactors and substrates of PLK4/SAK kinase.
Areas of interest:- Centrioles biogenesis
- PLK4/SAK
Dawn Yu
Address:
Department of Genetics,
University of Cambridge,
Downing Street,
Cambridge,
CB2 3EH,
England.
Email:
qdy20@cam.ac.uk
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