# Investigating the Cell Division Machinery

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2023 · $390,000

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Cell division is a complex and specifically orchestrated set of events that culminates in the equal segregation of
sister chromatids into two cells. It relies on a multitude of protein complexes, protein-protein interactions, and
regulatory mechanisms driven by the activities of posttranslational modification enzymes. Misregulation of cell
division can lead to unrestricted or defective cell divisions that can promote chromosomal instability and
aneuploidy, which are associated with many types of cancers. Through proteomic and genetic screens we
have uncovered novel proteins that are critical to the fidelity of cell division. We have applied multidisciplinary
approaches that utilize cell biology, molecular biology, computational biology and biochemistry to analyze the
function of these proteins. These approaches have allowed us to define the function of many new proteins with
critical roles in key cell division events including centrosome homeostasis, mitotic microtubule spindle
assembly, spindle assembly checkpoint function and cytokinesis. Furthermore, we have applied chemical
biology approaches to define novel cell division inhibitors and their mechanisms of action, which we have used
as molecular probes for dissecting the mechansims of cell division and for the development of cancer
therapeutics. In this proposal, we propose to advance our understanding of the repertoire of proteins and their
mechanisms that are important to cell division. This will include functional analysis of novel and poorly-
characterized microtubule-associated proteins involved in centrosome homeostasis and mitotic spindle
assembly, and novel components that contribute to the fidelity of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Overall, the
proposed research studies will increase our understanding of the repertoire of cell division enzymes, their
function whithin critical cell division events, how they are regulated, and how they coordinate with each other to
ensure proper cell division. These studies will also advance our understanding of the cell division mechanisms
that are dysregulated in human developmental and proliferative diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10573302
- **Project number:** 5R35GM139539-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Jorge Torres
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $390,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-03-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10573302

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10573302, Investigating the Cell Division Machinery (5R35GM139539-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10573302. Licensed CC0.

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