Cell division: time and space

Roscoff (Brittany), France, September 11-15, 2010

 

Deadline for application: May 15, 2010

 

Chairperson: Yves Barral

Institut de Biochimie, HPM1, Room F13.1,
Schafmattstrasse 18, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Suisse
Phone: + 41 (044) 632 0678 – Fax: + 41 (044) 632 1591
Mail : yves.barral@bc.biol.ethz.ch

 

Vice-Chairperson: Ariane Abrieu

CRBM, CNRS - UMR 5237,
1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France
Phone: (33)-467-61-22-84 – Fax: (33)-467-52-15-59
Mail : ariane.abrieu@crbm.cnrs.fr

 

In order to divide the cell duplicates its genome and segregates one copy of it to opposite ends of its interior space, the two future daughter cells. The proper coordination of cell cycle events relative to each other in time and space is crucial to ensure that one and only one copy of each chromosome is transmitted to the daughter cells.  After the cell committed to division, the cell starts with replicating its DNA.  The timing with which replication origins are fired is not only temporally but also spatially regulated.  Indeed, early and late origins localize to different parts of nucleus.  During replication, cohesion is established between sister chromatids.  Mitosis itself is a complex succession of delicate events, and it is important that these are co-ordinated with each other, spatially and temporally.  Checkpoints play an important role in the temporal coordination of mitotic events. The classical example is the spindle checkpoint, which ensures that chromosome segregation does not occur until all chromosomes are bi-polarly attached to kinetochore fibers and aligned on the metaphase plate.  Thus, the spindle checkpoint is crucial to ensure both the proper geometry of the mitotic spindle and the proper timing of anaphase.  Spatial coordination has been most studied in the context of the positioning of the division plane relative to the spindle.  Recent data indicate that spatial coordination pathways ensure that the final fission of the cell does not occur when chromatin is still engaged in the division plane.  Furthermore, how cells coordinate their division and polarity axes relative to each other determines whether they divide asymmetrically, i.e., whether division is used to amplify a given cell type or to generate cellular diversity. Thus, mitosis is becoming a paradigmatic process for understanding how cells resolve spatial issues.

We will address the regulation and coordination of the different cell cycle events, focussing on checkpoints and on the mechanisms through which cells solve geometrical issues during mitosis, properly localizing and orienting the spindle, achieving proper chromosome biorientation, controls the size of the anaphase spindle and chromosomes condensation to ensure proper chromatid segregation, or coordinates the position and timing of cytokinesis with chromosome segregation.  We will also address the mechanisms that control organelle segregation and coordinate these processes with mitotic progression.  Indeed, while most studies have focused on the process of chromosome segregation, recent studies have underlined the importance of organelles in proper mitotic completion, i.e., both the mechanisms of organelle segregation as well as the role of organelles such as the Golgi apparatus and mitochondria in cell cycle control.  A better understanding of how spatial and temporal co-ordination of cell cycle events is achieved is crucial, as machineries that ensure this coordination, the checkpoints, are often mutated in cancer cells.

In order to achieve these goals, the conference will focus on the following topics:

  • Spindle dynamics and chromosome segregation
  • DNA replication and the establishment of chromosome cohesion
  • Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division
  • Nuclear dynamics and mitotic progression
  • The control of mitotic exit and cytokinesis
  • Meiosis
  • Organelle segregation and cell cycle control

 

Invited speakers

(provisional titles)

 

ABRIEU Ariane (Montpellier, France)
Interplay between Kinases and Kinesin at the Kinetochore

BALASUBRAMANIAN Mohan  (Singapore, Singapore)
Spatial Regulation of Cytokinesis in Fission Yeast

BARRAL Yves (Zurich, Switzerland)
Aging, rejuvenation and memory, what can we learn from yeast

BASTO Renata (Paris, France)
Aneuploidy and centrosome amplification, more or less in tumour formation?

BIGGINS Sue (Seattle, USA)
Regulation of kinetochore biorientation

DIFFLEY John (London, UK)
The Mechanism and Regulation of Eukaryotic DNA Replication

DOXSEY Stephen (Worcester, USA)
Coordination of late mitotic events in mammalian cells

DOYE Valerie (Paris, France)
Nucleoporins and cell cycle, an evolving relationship

DUCOMMUN Bernard (Toulouse, France)
CDC25B phosphatases

ECHARD Arnaud (Paris, France)
Spatial and temporal control of cortical lipid domains essential for cytokinesis

ELLENBERG Jan (Heidelberg, Germany)
Nuclear dynamics during mitosis

GOTTA Monica (Geneva, Switzerland)
Coupling spindle positioning and cell polarity during asymmetric cell division

HYMAN Tony (Dresden, Germany)
Microtubules and cell division

KAPOOR Tarun (New-York, USA)
Mechanisms of spindle assembly

KNOBLICH Jürgen (Vienna, Austria)
Asymmetric cell division and proliferation control in Drosophila

KNOP Michael (Heidelberg, Germany)
Meiosis I chromosome segregation and achiasmate meiosis

LIPPINCOTT-SCHWARTZ Jennifer (Bethesda, USA)
Mitochondrial control of the cell cycle

MAIATO Helder (Porto, Portugal)
Spatiotemporal control of mitosis by the spindle matrix

MALHOTRA Vivek (Barcelona, Spain)
Regulation of mitotic entry by the pericentriolar Golgi complex

NASMYTH Kim (Oxford, UK) to be confirmed
Keynote address

NEDELEC François (Heidelberg, Germany)
Effects of chromatin on the Xenopus mitotic spindle

PASERO Philippe (Montpellier, France)
New mechanisms regulating the replication of yeast chromosomes

PIATTI Simonetta (Montpellier, France)
Septin regulation by the Rho1 GTPase in budding yeast

PINES Jonathon (Cambridge, UK)
Kinetic analysis of how cells trigger mitotic entry and exit

PON Liza (New-York, USA)
Control of mitochondrial inheritance in budding yeast

SHAHRAGIM Tajbakhsh (Paris, France)
Skeletal muscle stem cell properties

UHLMANN Frank (London, UK)
Kinase/phosphatase ratio determines ordered Cdk substrate dephosphorylation during mitotic exit

WASSMANN Katja (Paris, France)
Cell cycle and checkpoint control of meiosis I in mammalian oocytes

 

Deadline for application: May 15, 2010

 

Registration fee (including board and lodging)

450 € for PhD students
550 € for other participants

 

Application for registration

The total number of participants is limited to about 115 and all participants are expected to attend for the whole duration of the conference. Selection is made on the basis of the affinity of potential participants with the topics of the conference. Scientists and PhD Students interested in the meeting should send:

  • their curriculum vitae
  • the list of their main publications for the 3 last years
  • the abstract of their presentation

 

to the Chairperson of the conference before the deadline. After it, the chairman will select the participants. Except in some particular cases approved by the Chairperson, it is recommended that all selected participants present their work during the conference, either in poster form or by a brief in- session talk. The organizers choose the form in which the presentations are made. No payment will be sent with application. Information on how and when to pay will be mailed in due time to those selected.