Cancer initiation can occur when a cell undergoes a genetic change that allows it to survive and reproduce in defiance of normal growth constraints. Cancer progression occurs when these aberrant cells invade and colonize in foreign areas that are normally reserved for other cells. Aneuploidy, the loss or gain of a small number of whole chromosomes, is now thought to be a major contribution to initiation and progression of human cancer. In fact, the most common hallmark of all human solid tumors is the presence of aneuploid cells. It is essential that we understand the mechanisms that cells have developed to prevent aneupoidy, which is produced by inaccurate chromosome segregation. Accuracy depends critically on attachment of mitotic chromosomes via their kinetochores to the mitotic spindle. We are just beginning to understand the molecular nature of this interface, and have made considerable progress in identifying a key kinetochore complex that is essential for kinetochore-microtubule (MT) attachment. The Ndc80 complex is comprised of 4 proteins: Ndc80 (Hec1 in humans for Highly Expressed in Cancer), Nuf2, Spc24, and Spc25. This complex not only has roles in kinetochore-MT attachment, but also in the mitotic checkpoint, an important anti-proliferation mechanism cells use to prevent erroneous cell division. Important for cancer research, human cells depleted of Nuf2 and Hec1 arrest in mitosis and subsequently undergo apoptosis. Hec1 is a key kinetochore component that we will continue to study as recent evidence has indicated that RNA interference against Hec1 inhibits tumor growth in vivo, making it an important target for anti-cancer therapies. We propose to further study Hec1 and the Ndc80 complex by (1) delineating the functional regions of Hec1 with emphasis on its roles in the mitotic checkpoint, in apoptotic cell death, and in kinetochore-MT formation and regulation, (2) identifying and characterizing proteins that interact with Hec1, and (3) determining the role of Nuf2 (also a member of the Ndc80 complex) in human kinetochore function. I will initiate these studies under the mentorship of Professor Ted Salmon and transition into an independent laboratory during the second year of the award. The mentored year will allow me to gain additional tools that will complement my skills in biochemistry and cell biology, so that I will be in a strong position to make significant contributions to the fields of mitosis and cancer biology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01CA125051-03
Application #
7595896
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Lohrey, Nancy
Project Start
2007-04-25
Project End
2012-03-31
Budget Start
2009-04-01
Budget End
2010-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$154,926
Indirect Cost
Name
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
785979618
City
Fort Collins
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80523
DeLuca, Jennifer G; Musacchio, Andrea (2012) Structural organization of the kinetochore-microtubule interface. Curr Opin Cell Biol 24:48-56
Sundin, Lynsie J R; Guimaraes, Geoffrey J; Deluca, Jennifer G (2011) The NDC80 complex proteins Nuf2 and Hec1 make distinct contributions to kinetochore-microtubule attachment in mitosis. Mol Biol Cell 22:759-68
DeLuca, Keith F; Lens, Susanne M A; DeLuca, Jennifer G (2011) Temporal changes in Hec1 phosphorylation control kinetochore-microtubule attachment stability during mitosis. J Cell Sci 124:622-34
DeLuca, Jennifer G (2010) Kinetochore-microtubule dynamics and attachment stability. Methods Cell Biol 97:53-79
Joglekar, Ajit P; DeLuca, Jennifer G (2009) Chromosome segregation: Ndc80 can carry the load. Curr Biol 19:R404-7
Guimaraes, Geoffrey J; Deluca, Jennifer G (2009) Connecting with Ska, a key complex at the kinetochore-microtubule interface. EMBO J 28:1375-7
Wan, Xiaohu; O'Quinn, Ryan P; Pierce, Heather L et al. (2009) Protein architecture of the human kinetochore microtubule attachment site. Cell 137:672-84
Pavani, Sri Rama Prasanna; DeLuca, Jennifer G; Piestun, Rafael (2009) Polarization sensitive, three-dimensional, single-molecule imaging of cells with a double-helix system. Opt Express 17:19644-55
Guimaraes, Geoffrey J; Dong, Yimin; McEwen, Bruce F et al. (2008) Kinetochore-microtubule attachment relies on the disordered N-terminal tail domain of Hec1. Curr Biol 18:1778-84