Nicholas Rhind, Ph.D.
Academic Role: Assistant Professor
Faculty Appointment(s) In:
Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Other Affiliation(s):
Cell Biology
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
Figures
Figure 1. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is
a simple, single cell eukaryote that has proven to be an excellent model for cell cycle
and checkpoint regulation. It divides by medial fission, distinguishing it from the
budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, another popular lab yeast.

Figure 2. A cartoon of the G2 DNA damage and replication checkpoint
pathways. The ultimate target of these checkpoints is the tyrosine
phosphorylation of Cdc2, the master regulator of mitosis. If Cdc2 is phosphorylated on
Y15, the cell remains in G2. When Cdc2 Y15 is dephosphorylated, the cell enters
mitosis and divides. Phosphorylation of Cdc2 Y15 is regulated by the Wee1 and Mik1
kinases and by Cdc25 phosphatase. The Checkpoint Rad proteins respond to DNA
damage or incomplete replication and activate Chk1 or Cds1, two checkpoint kinases
that prevent mitosis by inhibiting Cdc25 and by activating Mik1. The regulation of
Cdc25 by the checkpoints has been well studied, but regulation of Mik1 is still poorly
understood.
Office: Research 904, Lab 940D&E
Phone: 508-856-8316
E-mail: Nick.Rhind@umassmed.edu
Keywords:
Checkpoints,
DNA Recombination,
Cell Cycle,
DNA Replication,
Genetics
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