Mi Hye Song
Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
Lab Location: 333 DHE
Lab phone: (248) 370-3569
FAX: (248) 370-4225
Degree: Ph.D., University of California at
· BIO 325 Biochemistry I
BIO 326 Biochemistry I Lab
Centrosomes are the
primary microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) in animal cells, which play an
instrumental role in cell polarity, intracellular transport, cell motility, and
bipolar spindle assembly. While not absolutely required for mitosis, centrosomes
normally play a key role in establishing bipolar spindles. Thus, precise
regulation of centrosome assembly is crucial for the correct segregation of
chromosomes as cells divide. Genomic instability, a feature of many cancers, is
often associated with aberrant centrosomes. Recent studies demonstrated that
extra centrosomes alone suffice to promote genomic instability via erroneous
attachment of chromosome to microtubules, which is mediated by multipolar
intermediates. An understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of
centrosome assembly should aid our knowledge of human diseases in which this
process goes awry. Despite dramatic recent progress, we are still far from a
full comprehension of centrosome biogenesis and its link to the cell cycle. Our
laboratory is applying a combination of biochemistry, cell biology, genetics,
proteomics and quantitative imaging to the study of centrosome biology in the
nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Song MH, Liu Y,
Anderson DE, Jahng WJ., and O’Connell KF (2011) Protein Phosphatase
2A-SUR-6/B55 Regulates centriole duplication by controlling the levels of centriole
assembly factors ZYG-1 and SAS-5 in C.elegans. Developmental
Cell 20: 563-571.
Peters N, Perez D, Song MH, Liu Y, Müller-Reichert T, Caron C, Kemphues K,
and O'Connell KF (2010) Control of Mitotic and Meiotic Centriole Duplication by
the Plk4-Related Kinase ZYG-1.Journal
of Cell Science 123: 795-805.
Song MH, Aravind
L, Müller-Reichert T, and O'Connell KF (2008) The Conserved Protein SZY-20
Opposes the Plk4-Related Kinase ZYG-1 to Limit Centrosome Size. Developmental
Cell 15: 901-912.
Song MH, Miliaras
NB, Peel N, and O’Connell KF (2008) Centrioles: Some Self-Assembly Required. Current
Opinions in Cell Biology 20:
Kemp C, Song MH, Addepalli MK, Hunter G and O’Connell K (2007)
Suppressors of zyg-1 define regulators of centrosome duplication and nuclear
association in C. elegans. Genetics 176: 95-113. (Selected
for Issue Highlights).
Rivera AS, Gonsalves FC, Song MH, Norris BJ and Weisblat DA (2005)
Characterization of Notch-class gene expression in segmentation stem cells and
segment founder cells in Helobdella
robusta (Lophotrochozoa; Annelida; Clitellata; Hirudinida; Glossiphoniidae).Evolution and Development 7: 588-599.
Song MH, Brown NL
and Kuwada JY (2004) The cfy mutation disrupts cell divisions in a
stage-dependent manner in zebrafish embryos. Developmental Biology 276: 194-206.
Song MH, Huang F,
Gonsalves FC and Weisblat DA (2004) Cell cycle-dependent expression of a hairy
and Enhancer of split (hes) homolog during cleavage and segmentation in the
leech embryos. Developmental Biology 269: 183-195.
Song MH, Huang F,
Chang G and Weisblat DA (2002) Expression and function of an even-skipped
homolog in the leech Helobdella robusta. Development 129: 3681-3692.
Hagen TM, Ingersoll RT, Wehr CM, Lykkesfeldt J, Vinarsky V,
Bartholomew JC, Song MH, and Ames BN (1998) Acetyl-L-carnitine fed to old
rats partially restores mitochondrial function and ambulatory activity. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences USA 95: 9562-6.