Understanding the role of CyclinB1-NuMA interaction in spindle orientation and epithelial morphogenesis

In multicellular organisms, oriented cell divisions sustain tissue morphogenesis, tissue architecture and homeostasis by ensuring the correct positioning of daughter cell after mitosis.

Accurate execution of oriented divisions and chromosome segregation relies on the positioning of an essential actor, the mitotic spindle. The consequence of spindle misorientation is drastic.

Disruption of any of the spindle orientation factors could lead to genetic instability, tissue disorganization and tumorigenesis. However, cell division is controlled not only in orientation, but also in time.

Indeed, spindle orientation is also very important for a wide range of developmental processes, ranging from germline stem cell division to epithelial tissue homeostasis and regeneration.

A more complete understanding of how spindles are oriented will therefore require more extensive research, e.g. using CRISPR-based strategies to interrogate the proposed interactions in vivo, into how the spindle-orienting machinery is localized and regulated in multiple systems.

The aim of this project is to advance knowledge on how cell cycle regulates spindle positioning and its contribution in epithelial morphogenesis in the intestinal tissues.

This advance knowledge will serve to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms of important human diseases such as cancer.