What determines the centromere on chromosomes
Genetic and Epigenetic Determinants of Centromere Identity
Researchers are using fruit flies to learn which DNA and chromatin marks tell chromosomes where to build their centromere, work that could eventually help people with infertility, miscarriages, or cancers tied to chromosome errors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251948 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They use Drosophila (fruit flies) and powerful genetic tools to map where centromeres form and how the histone variant CENP-A and surrounding DNA contribute. The team is looking at retroelements and satellite DNA and will test whether centromere transcription helps CENP-A become established. Experiments combine genome assembly, genetics, and molecular biology in whole animals to see how centromeres are kept stable during cell division and in eggs and sperm. The goal is to reveal basic mechanisms behind chromosome segregation that underlie some human reproductive problems and cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients, but it is most relevant to people with unexplained infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, or disorders linked to chromosome mis-segregation.
Not a fit: People with medical problems unrelated to chromosome structure or segregation (for example, most infections or metabolic diseases) are unlikely to see direct benefits from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could explain causes of chromosome mis-segregation and point toward future ways to diagnose or prevent conditions like infertility, developmental disorders, and certain cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies in yeast, flies, and human cells established CENP-A as central to centromere function, but using whole-animal genomics to link retroelements and centromere transcription is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mellone, Barbara — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Mellone, Barbara
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.