Binyam Mogessie, Ph.D.

Research

The Mogessie lab will explore the molecular mechanisms that guide proper chromosome segregation during the formation of mature oocytes. These egg cells are formed through a specialized process of cell division called meiosis, in which chromosomes are captured by a unique spindle structure and then carefully separated to generate a fertilizable egg. As a postdoctoral fellow and in my independent laboratory, I discovered that a filamentous protein structure called actin is an integral component of the meiotic machinery that segregates chromosomes and that this actin assembly is disrupted in older eggs, which increases their risk of developing chromosomal abnormalities. Now, using an array of cutting-edge techniques in live cell imaging, chemical and synthetic biology, and protein biochemistry, I will identify the proteins required to load actin onto the meiotic machinery and—using a combination of powerful methods for rapidly degrading specific target proteins—determine how these proteins contribute to accurate chromosome segregation. My work could reveal novel targets for treating infertility, miscarriages, and genetic conditions caused by chromosomal segregation errors.