Progress and perspective of cellular dynamics studies

The cell is a fundamental building block of life. Cellular dynamics and plasticity are essential for animal development, growth and reproduction. At the molecular level, cellular plasticity and dynamics are governed by genetic and epigenetic regulations. With the completion of animal genomes and elucidation biochemical characterization of macromolecule interactions, it is becoming increasingly important to delineate the spatiotemporal dynamics and regulation of key regulators underlying cellular dynamics such as cell division, which was the chief objective to build the Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics in the University of Science and Technology of China at the beginning of this Millennium. Using kinetochore assembly in mitosis as a model system, the Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics has successfully carried out molecular dissection of mammalian kinetochore composition, elucidated several important kinetochore interacting networks and illustrated the key regulator dynamics. Toward the completion of molecular delineation of mammalian kinetochore interactome and signaling cascades, the Lab aims to illuminate the molecular dynamics underlying kinetochore assembly at nano-scale. Successful accomplishment of their long-term objectives will enable us to consolidate dynamic protein-protein interactome into nano-scale physiology, which will provide a launch-pad for solving complex biological questions such as stem cell plasticity and for designing better anti-cancer drugs.