Download Our bodies are made up of no less than 60 trillion cells. Cell division

FUNDING PROGRAM FOR NEXT GENERATION WORLD-LEADING RESEARCHERS
Project Title: Study on how cell division machinery works
Name: Gohta GOSHIMA
Institution: Nagoya University
1. Background of research
Our bodies are made up of no less than 60 trillion cells. Cell division is an essential process for building our
body from only a single fertilized egg. The abnormal cell division is also known to cause severe diseases such
as cancer. However, the mechanism of cell division is well understood.
2. Research objectives
My research team aims to elucidate the mechanism of cell division. In particular, we will focus on studying the
cell division machinery called spindle, and identify proteins needed to form the spindle and understand their
molecular activities.
3. Research characteristics (incl. originality and creativity)
We will reconstitute some events taking place during cell division in a test tube, and also identify new cell
division regulators using plants. We expect that many of the genes found in plants are conserved also in
humans.
4. Anticipated effects and future applications of research
The newly identified genes associated with cell division are potential targets for anticancer drugs. The
reconstitution will elucidate the mechanism of cell division at the molecular level. Furthermore, by studying
animal and plant cell divisions at the same time, similarities and differences will be clarified; we expect to get
new insights into the evolution of organisms.