Dissecting Actin-Dependent Chromosome Cohesion in Mammalian Oocytes

Every human life starts when an egg is fertilised by a sperm. Unfortunately, eggs frequently contain incorrect number of chromosomes - they are aneuploid. Aneuploidy prevents healthy embryogenesis and often leads to genetic disorders such as Down's syndrome. Recently, I discovered that actin protect eggs from aneuploidy. I now wish to investigate the possibility that actin also tightly holds chromosomes together until they are ready to be separated. I will address this using advanced microscopy and protein function inhibition assays in mouse eggs. Untimely separation of chromosomes underlies human infertility and genetic disorders. Therefore, I will test whether actin can be artificially enriched to restore chromosomes cohesion in those oocytes where it has deteriorated. This study will provide valuable insight into a previously unknown mechanism that holds chromosomes together inside mammalian eggs. It will also generate potential tools to prevent premature chromosome separation and aneuploidy in human eggs.