Sophie Dumont, PhD

How do cells integrate biochemical and mechanical processes? The Dumont Lab aims to understand how cells generate, detect, and respond to mechanical forces to accurately segregate their chromosomes when they divide. While we have a nearly complete list of molecules essential to cell division, we know very little about the underlying mechanical interactions and principles. To probe the mechanical architecture of the machines of chromosome segregation (kinetochore and spindle), we combine mechanical perturbations and readouts with high resolution imaging and molecular perturbations. Looking forward, we aim to uncover the mechanical requirements of accurate chromosome segregation and mechanical failures of disease states such as cancer.