Iain Hagan - Overview

Our laboratory is taking two approaches to further our understanding of cell division. In the first we are identifying genes that are required for the correct formation of the mitotic spindle. In the second we are studying the G2/M switch. In particular we are studying how mutations in an essential spindle pole component called Stf1/Cut12 can be mutated to bypass the requirement for Cdc25. The behaviour of the Cdc25/Wee1 regulating kinase polo is altered in the stf1.1 mutants which bypass Cdc25 requirement. This altered behaviour is dependent upon the activity of another kinase, Fin1. Each regulatory component is also found in human cells we are collaborating with colleagues working on human cells and cancer to apply the knowledge we have gained from yeast to the study of cancer.