ZMB Member Stefan Westermann
ZMB Member
Stefan Westermann
Next ZMB-Member
Prof. Dr. Stefan Westermann
Group
Molecular Genetics ICenter of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB)
Faculty of Biology
University of Duisburg-Essen
Universitätsstr. 2
45141 Essen
- +49 201 183 2733
- Website
- Selected Publications
- Publication Metrics
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- ZMB Research Program
Molecular and Chemical Cell Biology
Research Overview
Kinetochores and the Microtubule Cytoskeleton
Starting out from a single fertilized egg, an adult human body contains about 100 Trillion cells. All of the cells in an organism are generated by division of existing cells, and the genomic building plan of the organism, in the form of chromosomes, needs to be exactly copied and divided between cells during the division process. How do cells achieve the segregation of their genomes with such remarkable precision? What type of molecular defects may underlie errors in chromosome segregation, which can give rise to birth defects and cancer? My laboratory is trying to understand how the duplicated genome is passed accurately from one cell generation to the next. We are following two related questions:
- How are Kinetochores constructed to allow accurate chromosome segregation? We are performing a detailed functional analysis and biochemical reconstitution of the budding yeast kinetochore.
- How are Microtubules organized and regulated to move chromosomes? We are investigating molecular motors and other microtubule-associated proteins in order to understand how they function, how they are regulated and how they organize microtubules.
Experimental Techniques
- In-vitro reconstitution and biochemical analysis of proteins and multi-protein complexes.
- Yeast genetics and functional analysis of the chromosome segregation machinery in-vivo.
- Advanced imaging techniques, such as total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy with single-molecule sensitivity and reconstituted assays for dynamic microtubule growth.
Selected Publications
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Phospho-regulated Bim1/EB1 interactions trigger Dam1c ring assembly at the budding yeast outer kinetochoreIn: The EMBO Journal Vol. 40 (2021) Nr. 18,ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
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Auto-inhibition of Mif2/CENP-C ensures centromere-dependent kinetochore assembly in budding yeastIn: The EMBO Journal Vol. 39 (2020) Nr. 14, pp. e102938ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
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Molecular basis for inner kinetochore configuration through RWD domain–peptide interactionsIn: The EMBO Journal Vol. 36 (2017) Nr. 23, pp. 3458 - 3482ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
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A Force-Induced Directional Switch of a Molecular Motor Enables Parallel Microtubule Bundle FormationIn: Cell Vol. 167 (2016) Nr. 2, pp. 539 - 552.e14ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
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BiGBac enables rapid gene assembly for the expression of large multisubunit protein complexesIn: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) Vol. 113 (2016) Nr. 19, pp. E2564 - E2569ISSN: 1091-6490; 0027-8424Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
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CCAN Assembly Configures Composite Binding Interfaces to Promote Cross-Linking of Ndc80 Complexes at the KinetochoreIn: Current Biology Vol. 26 (2016) Nr. 17, pp. 2370 - 2378ISSN: 1879-0445; 0960-9822Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
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A structural basis for kinetochore recruitment of the Ndc80 complex via two distinct centromere receptorsIn: The EMBO Journal Vol. 32 (2013) Nr. 3, pp. 409 - 423ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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CENP-T proteins are conserved centromere receptors of the Ndc80 complexIn: Nature Cell Biology Vol. 14 (2012) Nr. 6, pp. 604 - 613ISSN: 1476-4679; 1097-6256Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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Spatiotemporal regulation of Ipl1/Aurora activity by direct Cdk1 phosphorylationIn: Current Biology Vol. 22 (2012) Nr. 9, pp. 787 - 793ISSN: 1879-0445; 0960-9822Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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A blueprint for kinetochores - new insights into the molecular mechanics of cell divisionIn: Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology Vol. 12 (2011) Nr. 7, pp. 407 - 412ISSN: 1471-0080Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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A Dam1-based artificial kinetochore is sufficient to promote chromosome segregation in budding yeastIn: Nature Cell Biology Vol. 11 (2009) Nr. 9, pp. 1109 - 1115ISSN: 1476-4679; 1097-6256Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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Different assemblies of the DAM1 complex follow shortening microtubules by distinct mechanismsIn: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) Vol. 105 (2008) Nr. 19, pp. 6918 - 6923ISSN: 1091-6490; 0027-8424Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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The Dam1 ring binds microtubules strongly enough to be a processive as well as energy-efficient coupler for chromosome motionIn: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) Vol. 105 (2008) Nr. 40, pp. 15423 - 15428ISSN: 1091-6490; 0027-8424Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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Architecture of the Dam1 kinetochore ring complex and implications for microtubule-driven assembly and force-coupling mechanismsIn: Nature Structural & Molecular Biology Vol. 14 (2007) Nr. 8, pp. 721 - 726ISSN: 1545-9985; 1545-9993Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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Structures and functions of yeast kinetochore complexesIn: Annual Review of Biochemistry Vol. 76 (2007) pp. 563 - 591ISSN: 1545-4509Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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The Dam1 kinetochore ring complex moves processively on depolymerizing microtubule endsIn: Nature Vol. 440 (2006) Nr. 7083, pp. 565 - 569ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
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Formation of a dynamic kinetochore-microtubule interface through assembly of the Dam1 ring complexIn: Molecular Cell Vol. 17 (2005) Nr. 2, pp. 277 - 290ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/