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Aaron Severson - Post-Doctoral Researcher 125 Koshland Hall Mailing Address: |
| Research Summary |
| The kinetochore is a large assemblage of proteins that attaches chromosomes to spindle microtubules and mediates chromosome segregation. (see Figure, microtubules are shown in green and chromosomes are shown in blue). Defects in chromosome segregation underlie diseases including Down syndrome and cancer. Although over 50 kinetochore proteins have been identified in yeast, the composition of the kinetochore and the mechanisms ensuring proper microtubule attachments remain poorly understood in metazoans. In C. elegans, kinetochores assemble along the entire length of holocentric chromosomes, allowing detailed cytological analyses including the real time viewing of chromosome movements and microtubule attachment to kinetochores in living embryos. Through a combination of genetics, biochemistry, and cell biological analyses, I am attempting to identify new components of the kinetochore and to understand how this intricate molecular machine facilitates the accurate segregation of chromosomes. Because C. elegans and human kinetochores appear highly conserved, my findings will have direct relevance to our understanding of human disease.
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| Publications/Presentations |
| Research Articles: Severson, A.F., Ling, L., van Zuylen, V., Meyer, B.J. 2009. The axial element protein HTP-3 promotes cohesin loading and meiotic axis assembly in C. elegans to implement the meiotic program of chromosome segregation. Genes & Development 23 (15), 1763-1778. Severson, A.F., Chan, R.C., and B.J. Meyer. 2004. Condensin restructures chromosomes in preparation for meiotic divisions. J. Cell Biol. 167:613-625. Severson, A.F., and B. Bowerman. 2003. Myosin and the PAR proteins polarize microfilament-dependent forces that shape and position mitotic spindles in C. elegans. J. Cell Biol. 161:21-26. Severson, A.F., D.L. Baillie, and B. Bowerman. 2002. A Formin Homology protein and a Profilin are required for cytokinesis and Arp2/3-independent assembly of cortical microfilaments in C. elegans. Current Biol. 12:2066-2075. Hamill, D.R., A.F. Severson, J.C. Carter, and B. Bowerman. 2002. Centrosome maturation and mitotic spindle assembly in C. elegans require SPD-5, a protein with multiple coiled-coil domains. Dev. Cell. 3:673-684. Severson, A.F., D.R. Hamill, J.C. Carter, J. Schumacher, and B. Bowerman. 2000. The Aurora-related Kinase AIR-2 recruits ZEN-4/CeMKLP1 to the mitotic spindle at metaphase and is required for cytokinesis. Curr. Biol. 10:1162-1171. Swan, K.A., A.F. Severson, J.C. Carter, P.R. Martin, H. Schnabel, R. Schnabel, and B. Bowerman. 1998. cyk-1: a C. elegans FH gene required for a late step in embryonic cytokinesis. J. Cell Sci. 111:2017-2027. Review Articles: Severson, A.F. and B. Bowerman. 2002. Cytokinesis: closing in on the central spindle. Dev. Cell. 2:4-6. Bowerman, B. and A.F. Severson. 1999. Cell Division: Plant-like properties of animal cell cytokinesis. Curr. Biol. 9: R658-660 |
| Education |
| 1995 - 2001 University of Oregon Doctor of Philosophy in Biology 1990 - 1994 |
