Elucidating chromosomal instability by chromosome tracking in live cell imaging

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26640067
• 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): ITOH GO 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 助教 (60607563) ; IKEDA MASANORI 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 教育研究支援者 (80645010)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 癌 / 細胞・組織 / 染色体不安定性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to elucidate the mechanism of chromosomal instability commonly seen in cancer cells. We hypothesized that modest chromosomal instability that allows cell survival, not severe instability causing cell death, is involved in cancer formation and progression, and focused on the defect in efficient chromosome alignment to the spindle equator. To address the point, we developed methods to visualize single chromosome and observe its dynamics. We also found that two motor proteins, CENP-E and Kid, is involved in chromosome alignment (Nat Commun, 2015). In Kid-depleted cells, there was a delay in chromosome alignment and chromosomal instability was induced, exemplifying the occurrence of chromosomal instability by modest mitotic defects.

Free Research Field

分子腫瘍学