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Jill M. Schumacher

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Interests

  • Chromosome dynamics
  • Mitosis
  • Aurora kinases
  • Tousled kinases
  • C. elegans

Our research is focused on the regulation of chromosome dynamics during the eukaryotic cell cycle. For these studies, we utilize genetic, biochemical and cell biological methods using the soil nematode, C. elegans, as a model system. We have concentrated our efforts on two members of a highly conserved family of proteins, the Aurora kinases. In the past five years, the Aurora kinases have emerged as critical oncogenes that contribute to multiple tumor types in man. Deciphering how these important kinases are regulated during the cell cycle is an important challenge.

The C. elegans Aurora A kinase AIR-1 and Aurora B kinase AIR-2 are each uniquely localized to the mitotic spindle and are required at different times during the C. elegans cell cycle. The AIR-1 protein is associated with mitotic centrosomes and is required early in mitosis for the proper assembly and function of the mitotic spindle. Unlike AIR-1, the AIR-2 protein is initially localized to metaphase chromosomes and translocates to the central spindle microtubules at anaphase. AIR-2 function is required for appropriate kineotochore/microtubule attachments and for the organization of the central spindle, a structure that is essential for the completion of cytokinesis.

My lab has recently identified two highly conserved activators of the Aurora B kinase, INCENP and the Tousled kinase. Although INCENP clearly has a role in mitotic chromosome segregation, Tousled has been implicated in chromatin assembly and transcription. We hypothesize that each activator/Aurora B complex may have a distinct subset of substrates that are involved in specific aspects of chromosome dynamics. We are now undertaking molecular and genetic screens to find such substrates.

A separate project in the lab is focused on the role of AIR-1 and its substrates in germ cell development. AIR-1 is required for germ cell proliferation and it phosphorylates a second conserved kinase, GCK-1, that is required for appropriate progression of the meiotic cell cycle. Interestingly, GCK-1 localizes to P-bodies in the C. elegans germline and early embryo. P-bodies have recently emerged as key players in RNA processing and RNA mediated interference. We are currently addressing the role of GCK-1 and AIR-1 in P-body function and germline development.

Office Address

Phone: (713) 834-6331
Email: jschumac@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1995 University of Washington, Seattle, WA, PHD, Genetics

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Associate Professor, Center of Excellence for Epigenetic Research, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 9/2007-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Schumacher JM, Ashcroft N, Donovan PJ, Golden A. A highly conserved centrosomal kinase, AIR-1, is required for accurate cell cycle progression and segregation of developmental determinants in C. elegans embryos. Development 125(22):4391-4402, 11/1998. PMID: 9778499.
2. Schumacher JM, Golden A, Donovan PJ. AIR-2: An Aurora/Ipl1-related protein associated with chromosomes and midbody microtubules is required for cytokinesis in C. elegans embryos. J Cell Biol 143(6):1635-46, 12/1998. PMCID: PMC2132979.
3. Severson AF, Hamill DR, Carter JC, Schumacher J, Bowerman B. The Aurora/Ipl1-related kinase AIR-2 functions at metaphase to recruit the kinesin-like protein ZEN-4 to the mitotic spindle midzone. Curr Biol 10(19):1162-1171, 10/2000. PMID: 11050384.
4. Golden A, Sadler PL, Wallenfang MR, Schumacher JM, Hamill DR, Bates G, Bowerman B, Seydoux G, Shakes DC. Metaphase to anaphase (mat) transition-defective mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Cell Biol 151(7):1469-1482, 12/2000. PMCID: PMC2150685.
5. Rogers E, Bishop JD, Waddle JA, Schumacher JM, Lin R. The Aurora kinase AIR-2 functions in the release of chromosome cohesion in Caenorhabditis elegans meiosis. J Cell Biol 157(2):219-229, 4/2002. PMCID: PMC1855215.
6. Bishop JD, Schumacher JM. Phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminus of inner centromere protein (INCENP) by the Aurora B Kinase stimulates Aurora B kinase activity. J Biol Chem 277(31):27577-27580, 8/2002. PMCID: PMC1855214.
7. Furuta T, Baillie DL, Schumacher JM. The C. elegans Aurora A kinase LET-412/AIR-1 is required for embryonic and postembryonic cell divisions. Genesis 34(4):244-250, 12/2002. PMID: 12434334.
8. Shakes DC, Sadler PL, Schumacher JM, Abdolrasulnia M, Golden A. Developmental defects observed in hypomorphic anaphase-promoting complex mutants are linked to cell cycle abnormalities. Development 130(8):1605-1620, 4/2003. PMCID: PMC1805483.
9. Han Z, Saam JR, Adams HP, Mango SE, Schumacher JM. The C. elegans Tousled-like kinase (TLK-1) has an essential role in transcription. Curr Biol 13(22):1921-1929, 11/2003. PMCID: PMC1794221.
10. Bishop JD, Han Z, Schumacher JM. The C. elegans Aurora B kinase AIR-2 phosphorylates and is required for the localization of a BimC kinesin to meiotic and mitotic spindles. Mol Biol Cell 16(2):742-756, 2/2005. PMCID: PMC545908.
11. Han Z, Riefler GM, Saam JR, Mango SE, Schumacher JM. The C. elegans Tousled-like kinase contributes to chromosome segregation as a substrate and regulator of the Aurora B kinase. Curr Biol 15(10):894-904, 5/2005. PMCID: PMC2653428.
12. Zhang K, Lin W, Latham JA, Riefler GM, Schumacher JM, Chan C, Tatchell K, Hawke DH, Kobayashi R, Dent SY. The Set1 methyltransferase opposes Ipl1 Aurora kinase functions in chromosome segregation. Cell 122(5):723-734, 9/2005. PMCID: PMC1794220.
13. Burrows AE, Sceurman BK, Kosinski ME, Richie CT, Sadler PL, Schumacher JM, Golden A. The C. elegans Myt1 ortholog is required for the proper timing of oocyte maturation. Development 133(4):697-709, 2/2006. PMCID: PMC1794222.
14. Riefler GM, Dent SY, Schumacher JM. Tousled-Mediated Activation Of Aurora B Kinase Does Not Require Tousled Kinase Activity In Vivo. J Biol Chem 283(19):12763-8, 5/2008. e-Pub 3/2008. PMCID: PMC2442327.
15. Heallen TR, Adams HP, Furuta T, Verbrugghe KJ, Schumacher JM. An Afg2/Spaf-related Cdc48-like AAA ATPase regulates the stability and activity of the C. elegans Aurora B kinase AIR-2. Dev Cell 15(4):603-616, 10/2008. PMCID: PMC2582393.
16. de Carvalho CE, Zaaijer S, Smolikov S, Gu Y, Schumacher JM, Colaiácovo MP. LAB-1 antagonizes the Aurora B kinase in C. elegans. Genes Dev 22(20):2869-85, 10/2008. PMCID: PMC2569883.
17. Schouest KR, Kurasawa, Y, Furuta T, Hisamoto N, Matsumoto K, Schumacher JM. The Germinal Center Kinase GCK-1 is a negative regulator of MAP kinase activation and apoptosis in the C. elegans germline. PLoS ONE. In Press.

Invited Articles
1. Ford, JR, Schumacher JM. Chromosome Dynamics-The Case of the Missing Condensin. Current Biology 19. e-Pub 2/2009. PMID: 19211053.

Last updated: 9/23/2009