Iain Cheeseman: "Rewiring cell division"

Our lab is fascinated by the molecular machinery that directs core cellular processes, and in particular how these processes are modulated and rewired across different physiological contexts. Our work has focused on the proteins that direct chromosome segregation and cell division. Although cell division is an essential cellular process, this machinery is remarkably flexible in its composition and properties. In fact, it can vary dramatically between species and is even modulated within the same organism — over the cell cycle, during development, and across diverse physiological situations. To define the basis by which core cellular structures are rewired to adapt to diverse situations and functional requirements, we are currently investigating diverse transcriptional, translational, and post-translational mechanisms that act to generate proteomic variability both within individual cells and across tissues, cell state, development, and disease. I will describe our recent work exploring alternate translational isoforms and changes in translational control throughout the cell cycle for achieving proper cell division.