Bhalla, Needhi - University of California, Santa Cruz - Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology Faculty

个人简介

B.A., Columbia College, New York Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco

研究领域

CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION DURING MEIOSIS We are interested in the mechanisms that ensure that chromosomes segregate correctly during cell division, particularly in meiosis. During this specialized cell division, diploid cells give rise to haploid gametes, such as sperm and eggs, so that diploidy is restored by fertilization. Defects in meiosis can generate gametes, and therefore embryos, with the incorrect number of chromsomes. These aberrations in chromosome number, also referred to as aneuploidy, typically produce inviable embryos. It is estimated that 30% of human miscarriages are due to aneuploidy. In some cases, the presence of an extra copy of a chromosome can be tolerated by a human embryo but results in serious developmental disorders, such as Down and Klinefelters syndrome. We are specifically interested in how chromosome structure and function contribute to meiotic chromosome segregation. Early in meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair, synapse and recombine with their unique partner. All of these events are required for the proper segregation of chromosomes during meiosis. We combine genetic and biochemical approaches with high-resolution microscopy and cytological techniques to gain a more informed view of how molecular events during meiosis govern and are governed by higher-order chromosome behavior. We address these issues by investigating two processes in early meiosis: 1) how chromosomes monitor their own behavior during prophase and determine if they are synapsed and 2) how chromosomes are restructured around the recombination event to prepare for chromosome segregation. We perform most of our experiments in C. elegans, an organism that is amenable to genetic, cytological and biochemical manipulation.

近期论文

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Shugoshin Is Essential for Meiotic Prophase Checkpoints in C. elegans. Bohr T, Nelson CR, Giacopazzi S, Lamelza P, Bhalla N. Curr Biol. 2018 Oct 22;28(20):3199-3211.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.026. Epub 2018 Oct 4. Synaptonemal Complex Components Are Required for Meiotic Checkpoint Function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Bohr T, Ashley G, Eggleston E, Firestone K, Bhalla N. Genetics. 2016 Nov;204(3):987-997. doi: 10.1534/genetics.116.191494. Epub 2016 Sep 7. Spindle assembly checkpoint proteins regulate and monitor meiotic synapsis in C. elegans. Bohr T, Nelson CR, Klee E, Bhalla N. J Cell Biol. 2015 Oct 26;211(2):233-42. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201409035. Epub 2015 Oct 19. Differential regulation of germline apoptosis in response to meiotic checkpoint activation. Ye AL, Ragle JM, Conradt B, Bhalla N. Genetics. 2014 Nov;198(3):995-1000. doi: 10.1534/genetics.114.170241. Epub 2014 Sep 11. A quality control mechanism coordinates meiotic prophase events to promote crossover assurance. Deshong AJ, Ye AL, Lamelza P, Bhalla N. PLoS Genet. 2014 Apr 24;10(4):e1004291. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004291. eCollection 2014 Apr. Histone methyltransferases MES-4 and MET-1 promote meiotic checkpoint activation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Lamelza P, Bhalla N. PLoS Genet. 2012;8(11):e1003089. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003089. Epub 2012 Nov 15. Pairing centers recruit a Polo-like kinase to orchestrate meiotic chromosome dynamics in C. elegans. Harper NC, Rillo R, Jover-Gil S, Assaf ZJ, Bhalla N, Dernburg AF. Dev Cell. 2011 Nov 15;21(5):934-47. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.09.001. Epub 2011 Oct 20. The cohesin complex: a platform for checkpoint activation and DNA repair? Paschal CR, Bhalla N. Curr Biol. 2011 Sep 13;21(17):R649-50. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.07.039. No abstract available.