Home / Health / Dundee Study Cracks Cell Division Code
Dundee Study Cracks Cell Division Code
29 Apr
Summary
- New study investigates cellular 'light switches' crucial for cancer development.
- Researchers aim to understand rhythmic signalling in cell division.
- £4 million study hopes to uncover new cancer treatment strategies.
A significant multimillion-pound study, funded by a £4 million award from Wellcome, is delving into the complex mechanisms of cellular signalling believed to be central to cancer development.
Researchers at the University of Dundee are focused on unraveling the signals that dictate cell division, a fundamental biological process. They are particularly interested in the rapid on-off cycles, known as phosphorylation-dephosphorylation dynamics, which govern cell behaviour.
Scientists theorize that these dynamic signals act like a biological Morse code, and disruptions can lead to serious health issues, including cancer. The eight-year project aims to decipher this code to understand accurate cell division and its malfunctions in diseases like cancer.
The research also involves the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Germany, contributing expertise in kinetochore reconstitution to study these patterns in both healthy and cancerous cells.
