2006 Public Lecture Series
May 10, 2006
LIKE BEGETS LIKE: Molecular Machines, Mitosis and Medicine
Life is predicated on the replication of cells. During this process, called "mitosis," a cell must equally segregate its replicated DNA (i.e., chromosomes) into two daughter nuclei, and it must then pinch itself in half to create two new complete and independent daughter cells. To accomplish these mechanical tasks the cell builds a beautiful but complex "machine," termed the mitotic spindle. The spindle is a highly dynamic structure that converts chemical energy into the work required for division, and it is composed of many smaller machines that work in unison. Importantly, some of these small machines only function during mitosis, and are therefore not required for the life of the cell. Since cancer is a state of uncontrolled cell division, the machines that are unique to mitosis provide new targets for drug development. I will discuss how the spindle forms and functions in humans, and how drugs that disrupt mitosis are used in modern medicine.