Scott Keeney, PhD

Meiosis is a specialized cell division that generates gametes in sexually reproducing organisms, from fungi to humans. During meiosis in most organisms, recombination connects homologous chromosomes together, and these connections are essential for accurate chromosome segregation at the first meiotic division. Meiotic recombination proceeds through the formation and repair of DNA double-strand breaks made by the Spo11 protein. These self-inflicted DNA lesions, if unrepaired, would have lethal consequences for genome stability, making it important for the cell to carefully control when and where breaks are made and how they are repaired. My laboratory is interested in understanding how Spo11 works, how its activity is controlled so that it cuts DNA only when and where it is supposed to, how cells regulate the recombination machinery that processes Spo11-generated breaks, and how cells respond when there are problems in either making or repairing breaks. Our studies focus on these topics in both budding yeast and mouse.