The centre is also investigating how DNA is tightly wound and compacted so that it can fit into the nuclei of eukaryotic cells, as well as the protein-DNA complexes that are involved in this packaging.
Angus Lamond, a Wellcome Principal Research Fellow, studies the composition and function of organelles and multiprotein complexes[1] found within the nucleus.
This work is helping to explain how a cell's nucleus is organised,[2] an area that has particular importance to human diseases such as inherited genetic conditions which can have modified or disrupted organelles.
Jason Swedlow is a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow and investigates how chromosomes are separated during cell division.
[4] By understanding the processes that occur during cell division, it is hoped that a better knowledge will be gained of human diseases such as cancer which are often characterised by chromosome instability.