Cell Division and Cohesinopathies unit

Our research interest is focused on the study of Cell Division and Rare Diseases. We investigate the fundamental mechanisms that control chromosome segregation and mitotic progression during the cell cycle. To study the mechanisms governing mitosis regulation we use mostly the budding yeast as a model organism. The cell cycle in budding yeast is very similar to the cell cycle in humans and is regulated by the same proteins that are conserved through evolution; therefore, it is a perfect model for understanding the cell cycle. On the other hand, we also study the functions of a chromosome segregation-associated complex, the cohesin complex, in a human rare disease such as the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. Recently, numerous observations suggested that cohesin has an important role in the organization of the chromosome architecture. In this project our main objective is to study how the cohesin and Nipbl mutations found in CdLS patients cause the disease phenotypes.