How centromeres help chromosomes separate properly
Centromere behaviors that promote proper chromosome segregation in meiosis and mitosis
Researchers are looking at how centromeres—the parts of chromosomes that pull DNA apart—help prevent chromosome number errors that can cause infertility, birth defects, and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245743 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses laboratory models to learn how centromeres and their connections guide chromosomes to separate correctly during the two kinds of cell division that make eggs/sperm and body cells. The team will run three linked projects focused on centromere pairing, the forces that stabilize correct attachments, and other molecular mechanisms that prevent chromosomes from going to the wrong side. Much of the work uses budding yeast as a model system to reveal basic rules that also apply to human cells. By clarifying these steps, the research aims to explain why some cells end up with too many or too few chromosomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, or conditions linked to chromosome-number errors (aneuploidy), and those willing to donate samples for research, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments or with health problems unrelated to chromosome-segregation errors are unlikely to see direct benefits from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help scientists develop new ways to prevent, detect, or eventually treat chromosome-number errors that underlie some infertility, birth defects, and cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies in yeast and other model systems have uncovered important centromere and segregation mechanisms, but translating those findings into clinical tools remains a work in progress.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dawson, Dean S — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Dawson, Dean S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.