Remodelling of the Endomembrane System During Mitotic Exit

Cell division is essential for life, growth and development. We understand well how cells separate their DNA during division, but cells are more than just genetic material, they are full of internal membrane-bound compartments called organelles that perform biochemical functions that are essential for life. Understanding how the cell partitions, separates and reforms these organelles during the division process is largely unknown and I want to use some of the most advanced microscopes in the world to understand how these organelles are separated in living, dividing cells at the highest resolution possible. Problems in cell division can lead to a number of diseases such as cancer or developmental abnormalities and I believe that understanding how cells separate their organelles will give us clear insight into how division actually happens, and will show us new processes that could cause cell division failure if they went wrong.