Research Program: Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer
Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development

clark140@umn.edu
612-624-3442- office
612-624-4966 — lab
Preferred method of contact: e-mail

Duncan Clarke received his Ph.D. in Somatic Cell Genetics at the University of Cambridge, U.K., in the Department of Zoology. His thesis work was done in the laboratory or Dr. Robert T. Johnson. Dr. Clarke's post-doctoral training was done in the laboratory of Dr. Steven I. Reed at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. He joined the University of Minnesota, Department of Genetics Cell Biology and Development, in 2001 and he studies mechanisms that regulate the cell cycle.

Research Interests

The goal of our research is to understand mechanisms that cause genome instability. In humans, genome instability contributes to the incidence of birth defects and spontaneous abortions and is a key factor in the etiology of cancer. We work on cell cycle checkpoint controls, sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome dynamics and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. Each of these related areas are critical for the maintenance of a stable genome. We use yeast as a model system to rapidly discover new concepts that can then be translated to the human system. We are using yeast genetic screening techniques to isolate novel mutants and to identify new links between cell cycle regulators. These approaches are geared at identifying novel cell cycle control factors as well as proteins required for chromosome dynamics and structure. Although mammalian cells are less amenable to genetic studies, they are ideal for studying the cell cycle by microscopy. We are using fluorescently tagged proteins and conventional or video microscopy to watch the cell cycle in vivo. Our proteins of interest are depleted from the cells using RNAi technology.

Selected Publications

Downes CS, Clarke DJ, Mullinger AM, Giménez-Abián JF, Creighton AM, Johnson RT. A topoisomerase II-dependent G2 cycle checkpoint in mammalian cells. Nature 1994;372:467-470.

Clarke DJm Giménez-Abián JF. Checkpoints controlling mitosis BioEssays 2000;22:351-363. (Review article).

Andrews CA, Vas ACJ, Meier B, Giménez-Abián JF, Díaz-Martínez LA, VanderWaal K, Hsu W-S, Erickson S, Clarke DJ. A mitotic topoisomerase II checkpoint in budding yeast is required for genome stability but acts independently of Pds1/securin. Genes Dev. 2006;20:1162-1174.

Vas ACJ, Andrews CA, Kirkland Matesky K, Clarke DJ. In vivo analysis of chromosome condensation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Biol Cell 2007;18:557-568.

Díaz-Martínez LA, Giménez-Abián JF, Clarke DJ. Cohesin is dispensable for centromere cohesion in human cells. PLoS ONE 2007; 2:e318.