Mitosis and the Transmission of Cell Identity

Speaker: Professor Dame Amanda Fisher, Biochemistry, Epigentic Memory Group, Oxford University
Series: Cambridge Immunology Network Seminar Series

This Cambridge Immunology Network Seminar will take place on Thursday 26th November 2026, starting at 4:00pm, in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, MRC-LMB, Cambridge

Title: Mitosis and the Transmission of Cell Identity

Speaker: Professor Dame Amanda Fisher, Biochemistry, Epigentic Memory Group, Oxford University

Abstract: Cells undergo cyclic episodes of chromosome compaction and de-condensation during eukaryotic cell division. At mitosis, although most DNA binding factors are evicted from chromosomes, some remain. It has been proposed that these, together with underlying histones, ncRNA and methylated DNA, could ‘bookmark’ the genome to ensure that epigenetic identity is transmitted from parent to daughter cells. To examine this idea, we isolated native individual metaphase chromosomes, profiled their composition and investigated their biophysical properties using optical tweezers. We asked whether the mitotic loss of specific factors changes the subsequent re-establishment of transcriptional programs. Our data suggest that the biophysical properties of metaphase chromosomes change dramatically as cells differentiate, and we discuss some new experiments to test the mitotic bookmarking hypothesis.

Sherry Cheriyamkunnel1, Andrew Dimond1, Do Hyeon Gim1, Karen E Brown1, Amanda G Fisher1

Shubhadeep Patra2, Korak Kumar Ray2, Bhavik Patel2, David Rueda2

(Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford1 & MRC LMS, Imperial College London2)

Host: Professor Yorgo Modis, CITIID, Cambridge

Refreshments will be available following the seminar.