42nd iCeMS Seminar: Aya Sato, M.Sc.

A mystery of sexual reproduction is how maternal and paternal chromosomes recombine and separate during meiosis to generate haploid gametes. Using genetic and cytological approaches, we are investigating how each chromosome finds and recognizes its unique homologous partner in the nematode C. elegans. We provide evidence that special regions on each chromosome, known as "Pairing Centers", establish physical connections across the nuclear envelope to cytoplasmic microtubules and dynein to facilitate homolog pairing. Our results also suggest that generation of force is used to assess homology and to license subsequent chromosome interactions, including synapsis, during meiotic prophase.

Lecturer	Aya Sato, M.Sc. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Title	Cytoskeletal Forces Span the Nuclear Envelope to Coordinate Meiotic Chromosome Pairing and Synapsis
Date / Time	Friday, December 25, 2009 / 16:00-17:00
Venue	2nd floor Seminar Room (#A207), Main Building iCeMS Complex 1, Kyoto University Directions
Flyer	PDF (288KB)
Host	Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University
Contact	iCeMS Carlton Lab carlton-g@icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp