Department of Applied Physics

Description

Biophysics

The broad goal of our research is to understand the mechanisms that control eukaryotic chromosome segregation. We are interested in understanding the physical properties of chromatin and how those properties influence the higher order organization of chromosomes. We work closely with Hideo Mabuchi's group in a combined effort to biochemically reconstitute chromatin fibers and then measure their dynamic behavior using single molecule fluorescence tracking. By studying the dynamic compaction and relaxation of chromatin fibers and the kinetics of chromatin fiber association and dissociation we aim to understand how chromatin reorganizes and compacts in response to different nuclear environments and epigenetic modifications.

Courses Taught

• Advanced Cell Biology
• Advanced Molecular Biology

Selected Publications

• Polo-like kinase controls vertebrate spindle elongation and cytokinesis
• Centromeric chromatin gets loaded
• Centromere formation: from epigenetics to self-assembly
• Fluorescent protein applications in microscopy
• Genome-wide analysis reveals a cell cycle-dependent mechanism controlling centromere propagation
• Centromere assembly requires the direct recognition of CENP-A nucleosomes by CENP-N
• Dissection of CENP-C-directed centromere and kinetochore assembly
• Image analysis benchmarking methods for high-content screen design
• Dual recognition of CENP-A nucleosomes is required for centromere assembly
• Local Geometry and Elasticity in Compact Chromatin Structure