Functional analysis of Nedd1 in the cell cycle and beyond

Jantina Manning

Nedd1 (Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated gene 1) was originally identified as a developmentally down-regulated gene in the mouse central nervous system. By cellular analysis we found that human NEDD1 localises to the centrosome and mitotic spindle. The centrosome is the primary microtubule organising centre of the mammalian cell, and is a major organiser of cell division. Supporting the localisation studies, a role for Nedd1 in the cell cycle has recently been shown by two other laboratories which have reported an interaction between Nedd1 and components of the γ-tubulin ring complex, resulting in the targeting of this complex to the centrosome and spindle. Centrosome and spindle defects can lead to aberrant mitosis and problems with cell and organism viability, hence the regulation of this protein is very important and we are currently researching this in our laboratory. Additionally, we are investigating the role of Nedd1 in proliferation, differentiation and polarisation during development.