Kops Lab: Chromosome Segregation
PI: Geert Kops (about the PI)
Tel: +31(0)88 75 55163 Fax: +31(0)88 75 68101 E-mail: g.j.p.l.kops-at-umcutrecht.nl
Research Summary
Embryonic development and tissue homeostasis rely on error-free chromosome segregation during cell divisions. Chromosome segregation is a highly dynamic process, strictly controlled by a number of enzymes. Our lab wishes to understand the signaling networks that promote correct chromosome segregation. We focus on how protein phosphorylation regulates the attachment of chromosomes to spindle microtubules, as well as the response to errors in such attachment by the mitotic checkpoint to delay cell cycle progression.
Questions we'd like answers to:
How, where and when do the regulatory proteins become active?
What specific mitotic processes do they control?
How do they control them?
In addition, we're interested in investigating whether defects in these networks might underlie aneuploidy in development and cancer, and whether targeting these networks could be a novel anti-cancer therapy.
Approaches
We use chemical genetics, rapid affinity purifications, quantitative (phospho-)proteomics, high-resolution real-time and fixed-cell deconvolution imaging, and in vitro biochemistry.
If you'd like to learn more about our research and approaches, on what we've found so far and/or who are the people that are actually doing the work, please click on the links.