Previous and current research
The laboratory works on two problems of cell biology: how progress through the cell cycle is controlled and how cell morphogenesis and polarity are determined. These problems are studied using the genetically amenable single celled eukaryote fission yeast which has proven to be a good model system for understanding the cell cycle in mammalian cells. The laboratory has focused on genes which regulate progression through the cell cycle. Early work described the role of the cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) cdc2p in controlling the onset of S-phase and mitosis and in ensuring that they occur in the correct sequence. More recent work has focused on the molecular mechanisms responsible for initiating DNA replication and for the operation of check-point controls which ensure an orderly progression through the cell cycle. A number of genes influencing cell morphogenesis and polarity have also been studied. Several cell end markers have been identified which organise growth zones in the correct positions within the cell. These are delivered precisely to the cell ends by a control system involving microtubules and associated motors and other proteins which regular the organisation of the microtubular cytoskeleton within the cell.

This work is relevant for understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for global spatial order within the cell. The fission yeast genome has been completed and the laboratory is analysing a number of genomic problems, including overall gene organisation, intron distribution and phylogenetic comparisons. We are also screening a genome wide set of deletions for cell cycle and morphology defects.

Future projects
Future work will concentrate on the following topics:

1. Regulation and function of the molecules controlling the initiation of DNA replication.
2. Regulation and function of the molecules operating in the checkpoint controls linking DNA damage and S-phase completion to progression through the cell cycle.
3. Understanding how global spatial order is maintained within the cell and the role of microtubular dynamics in regulating this order. Other morphogenetic problems of interest include septum positioning and growth site organisation.
4. Fission yeast genomic and post-genomic studies.