“Reconstituting Eukaryotic Actomyosin Ring Dependent Cytokinesis”

We are interested in the comparative cell biology of how cell division machineries are assembled and the kinds of cytoskeletal polymers that can support cell division. I will discuss work carried out in my group on assembly and contraction of the actomyosin contractile ring, which is used by many eukaryotic cells to accomplish cytokinesis. I will discuss a combination of methods involving genetics, advanced imaging, and reconstitution to understand actomyosin ring assembly. I will also describe our work on cytokinetic ring contraction using an approach in which we have isolated in vitro contraction competent cytokinetic rings. These studies are beginning to shed light on how cells fission from one to two. 

Prof Mohan Balasubramanian, Biomedical Sciences Division, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick