Studies in humans and model organisms have shown that defects in centromere function result in chromosome abnormalities and copy-number changes that constitute a major cause of aneuploid-related syndromic disorders, intellectual disability, infertility, pregnancy loss, and cancer. Understanding the biological properties and functions of the centromere is therefore a high priority for health research.
Role Of Condensin In Chromosome Organisation And Regulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,425.00
Summary
When a cell divides, its hereditary material (DNA) must be copied and equally segregated into each daughter cell. Our DNA is organised into a number of long units known as chromosomes. In order for our genetic material to be faithfully segregated into two daughter cells, the chromosomes must compact nearly 10,000 fold. A key component is condensin and we aim to find out how condensin directs the organisation and compaction of the mammalian chromosome.
Breast cancer affects approximately one in ten women and is therefore a major health problem. In order to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease, it is critical to understand the molecular defects which contribute to disease initiation and progression. Over the last twenty years significant progress has been made in this regard, however there still remain a considerable number of unanswered questions. For example, it is not yet clear which are the most critical molecules ....Breast cancer affects approximately one in ten women and is therefore a major health problem. In order to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease, it is critical to understand the molecular defects which contribute to disease initiation and progression. Over the last twenty years significant progress has been made in this regard, however there still remain a considerable number of unanswered questions. For example, it is not yet clear which are the most critical molecules contributing to this disease and thus which are the best targets for therapeutic intervention. In this proposal, we aim to study two molecules. The first is called BRCA1 and is particularly important in inherited susceptibility to breast cancer. The second is called PML and, although originally described as a leukaemia-associated gene, it has since been implicated in a number of cancers. Specifically, we aim to investigate the possibility that PML and BRCA1 work together to protect against cancer and that they do this by regulating the ends of chromosomes, that is, the telomeres.Read moreRead less
The genomic programming of complex organisms. The project will have far-reaching consequences in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, information science and associated industries. It will provide a platform for the rationalization of genetic epidemiology and genetic improvement programs, the development of a wide range of new diagnostics and therapies, the development of new core technologies and practical approaches in genetics and genetic diversity, a framework for advanced gen ....The genomic programming of complex organisms. The project will have far-reaching consequences in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, information science and associated industries. It will provide a platform for the rationalization of genetic epidemiology and genetic improvement programs, the development of a wide range of new diagnostics and therapies, the development of new core technologies and practical approaches in genetics and genetic diversity, a framework for advanced genetic engineering, the development of new principles and systems for information storage and transmission, and the design of artificial systems capable of self-referential assembly in other environments.Read moreRead less