Induction of chromosomal instability by aberrant expression of motor proteins working on the spindle

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K14604
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Kozo 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 教授 (00304452)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IKEDA Masanori 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 教育研究支援者 (80645010)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 癌 / 細胞・組織 / 染色体不安定性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chromosomal instability, which is found in most cancer cells, is supposedly caused by defects permissive for cell survival. As causes of such mild defects, we focused on motor proteins that regulates chromosome dynamics on the spindle, and investigated the relationship between dysregulated expression of these proteins and chromosomal instability. When we reduced the expression of motor-related proteins on the spindle, time required to align chromosomes to the spindle equator was elongated, and chromosomal instability was induced. We also found that the late-aligning chromosomes are prone to show abnormal kinetochore-microtubule attachment as well as chromosome missegregation. These results suggest that delay in chromosome alignment causes chromosomal instability.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学・分子腫瘍学