Shengya Cao
Biochemistry
Bio-X SIGF Fellow 2013/2014
Profs. Aaron Straight (Biochemistry) and Andrew Spakowitz (Chemical Engineering)

When cells divide, DNA condenses to form mitotic chromosomes. Proper mitotic chromosome condensation is essential for genome stability; however, how it occurs is still a mystery. This is largely due to technological limitations that prevent the direct visualization of substructures of the mitotic chromosome. Shengya is developing a novel method to examine these substructures in living cells by marking known locations in DNA using fluorescent proteins. Combined with predictions from chromatin polymer models, this approach will allow for the study of condensation and the mechanisms of proteins involved in condensation in living cells.