D’Avino Group
Our Current Research
Cell division is one of the most fundamental biological processes. It is essential for growth, development and reproduction in many organisms, including humans. Cell division faithfully partitions the genomic information between the two daughter cells and errors in this process have been implicated in many human diseases, including cancer. Our research group studies the mechanisms and signalling pathways that govern cell division in eukaryotic cells and their de-regulation in cancer cells.
Current research topics include:
- Regulation of mitotic exit and cytokinesis by phosphorylation
- Organisation, regulation, and function of the midbody
- Origin and consequences of polyploidy in mammalian cells
Key Publications
Bassi I.Z., Audusseau, M., Riparbelli, M.G., Callaini, G. and D’Avino P.P. (2013) Citron kinase controls a molecular network required for midbody formation in cytokinesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 110(24):9782-9787. https://www.pnas.org/content/110/24/9782
McKenzie C., Bassi I.Z., Debski, J., Gottardo M., Callaini, G., Dadlez, M. and D’Avino P.P. (2016) Cross-regulation between Aurora B and Citron kinase controls midbody architecture in cytokinesis. Open Biology, 6: 160019. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.160019
Capalbo, L., Mela, I., Abad, M.A., Jeyaprakash A.A., Edwardson, J.M. and D’Avino P.P. (2016) Coordinated regulation of the ESCRT-III component CHMP4C by the chromosomal passenger complex and centralspindlin during cytokinesis.Open Biology,6: 160248. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.160248
McKenzie, C. and D’Avino P.P. (2016) Investigating cytokinesis failure as a strategy in cancer therapy. Oncotarget, 7(52):87323-87341 (doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.13556). https://www.oncotarget.com/article/13556/text/
D’Avino P.P. (2017). Citron kinase - renaissance of a neglected mitotic kinase. Journal of Cell Science, 130(10): 1701-1708; doi: 10.1242/jcs.200253. https://journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/130/10/1701/56225/Citron-kinase-renaissance-of-a-neglected-mitotic
Capalbo, L., Bassi, Z., Geymonat, M., Todesco, S., Copoiu, Enright, A., L., Callaini, G., Riparbelli, M.G.,Yu, L., Choudhary, J., Ferrero, E, Wheatley, S., Douglas, M.E., Mishima, M. and D’Avino P.P. (2019). The midbody interactome reveals new unexpected roles role for PP1 phosphatases in cytokinesis. Nature Communications, 10(1):4513. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12507-9
Scott, S.J., X. Li, S. Jammula, G. Devonshire, C. Lindon, R.C. Fitzgerald, and D’Avino P.P (2021). Evidence that polyploidy in esophageal adenocarcinoma originates from mitotic slippage caused by defective chromosome attachments. Cell Death & Differentiation, 28(7):2179-2193. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41418-021-00745-8
