Chromatin re-organisation at the transition from mitosis to G1: how phospho-switches regulate the process in space and time

To support the wellbeing of an organism and the perpetuation of life, cells must conduct specific tasks in a very controlled manner. Birth defects or diseases can occur if this control fails. Cells can execute these controls via transient changes in the behaviour of molecules. One example of these changes is the addition or removal of phosphates (phosphorylation/dephosphorylation) where a molecule will be functioning or non-functioning according to this modification.

My research will identify how the molecules that remove these phosphates (called phosphatases) can change the behaviour of the genome during cell division.

The results of this study will be a major advance in cell biology and it will also have translational potential. Some of these phosphatases are emerging as important candidates in different diseases and information about their mechanism and site of action could be used when designing drugs for conditions linked to their dysfunction.