Homologous chromosome organization in human fibroblast cells

Presenter: Kalani Valencia-Chin

Co-Presenter(s):
Emerson Herrmann

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 22-23

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Lisa Hua

Department: Biology

Funding Source/Sponsor: McNair

Other Funding Source/Program: LSAMP & NSF

Abstract:
The underlying mechanism that prevents homologous chromosome recombination in human somatic cells remains unknown. It has been reported that human cells hinder mitotic recombination by keeping two haploid sets of chromosomes spatially separated throughout mitosis (Hua and Mikawa, 2018). This antipairing organization segregates a pair of homologous chromosomes to opposite sides along the centrosome axis in polarized human endothelial cells (Hua and Mikawa, 2018). To test whether the antipairing pattern is cell type independent, and preserved in other cell types, we employed chromosome painting, and high resolution confocal microscopy to visualize human fibroblasts during mitosis. Our preliminary data shows homolog separation of chromosomes 4 and 17 in metaphase fibroblast cells. This data suggests that the antiparing organization may persist in a non-polarized cell type. Outcomes of our project will provide a model for chromosome organization in multiple human somatic cell types and additional evidence for preventing chromosomal misregulation.