PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Oklahoma State University

Project

Utilization and interactions of the γ-tubulin tether protein, SPC110

Centrosomes play a critical role in ensuring bipolar spindle assembly and accurate chromosome segregation in the cell. Centrosome duplication is cell cycle-regulated and is the first step in spindle formation. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae spindle pole body (SPB) serves as the sole microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) of the cell, nucleating both cytoplasmic and nuclear microtubules.  Yeast pericentrin, Spc110, binds to and activates the gamma tubulin complex via its N terminus, allowing nuclear microtubule polymerization to occur. My work consist in studying the domains necessary for Spc110 recruitment to the SPB and identifying the genes that regulate SPB expansion.