{"id":180421,"date":"2023-07-18T14:42:36","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T00:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=180421"},"modified":"2023-07-19T12:54:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T22:54:31","slug":"control-cancer-cell-division-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/07\/18\/control-cancer-cell-division-research\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Hilo biochemists seek to control cancer through cell division research"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Tao
Li Tao, right, and Brandt Warecki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Associate Professor of Biology Li Tao at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo<\/a> is doing research into the mechanisms of cell division to find clues for cancer treatment, and has published his most recent findings in Science Signaling<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The study was conducted primarily by Tao and Brandt Warecki, who holds a joint postdoctoral position between UH<\/abbr> Hilo and University of California, Santa Cruz. Warecki is lead author of the study; Tao serves as corresponding author.<\/p>\n

Tao is a biochemist and cell biologist with expertise in using a combination of in vitro biochemistry and in vivo cell biology to understand the regulation of cell division, providing insights into the fundamental mechanism to control the growth of cancer cells.<\/p>\n

The recently published findings from Tao\u2019s lab highlight that centralspindlin, a motor complex implicated in cell division, plays a pivotal role in dictating cytokinesis (cell division) by transporting essential components required to initiate this process.<\/p>\n

Finding clues for cancer treatment<\/h2>\n
\"Cell
In a 2016 study, Li Tao\u2019s research team used molecular cloning to engineer new kinesin constructs. (Photo credit: Claudia Hagan, UH<\/abbr> Hilo Stories)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tao says his research into the mechanisms of cell division will provide clues for cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

“Abnormal cell division causes cancer,” he explained. “Understanding the mechanism of cell division and its control has thus become a key to find cures for cancer.”<\/p>\n

Tao\u2019s ultimate goal is to have a greater understanding of how mitotic motors regulate cell division, which will help find an effective way to cure cancer.<\/p>\n

Tao believes the success of this mission depends on collaboration among peers.<\/p>\n

“In my opinion, solving problems on cell division should be teamwork with experts from various fields,” he said.<\/p>\n

For the full story visit UH<\/abbr> Hilo Stories<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

—By Susan Enright<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Biochemist Li Tao and Brant Warecki published their recent findings in Science Signaling<\/em> journal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[254,158,14,907],"class_list":["post-180421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-biology","tag-publication","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-hilo-stories","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t