T. Akera

Meiosis-specific decoupling of the pericentromere from the kinetochore

The paper identifies a meiosis-specific pericentromere specification in Peromyscus mouse oocytes that separates sister-chromatid cohesion from the kinetochore.

Condensin dysfunction is a reproductive isolating barrier in mice

This study identifies condensin dysfunction as a cause of hybrid female sterility in mice by showing it leads to chromosome de-condensation and mis-segregation in F1 hybrids.

Initial spindle positioning at the oocyte center protects against incorrect kinetochore-microtubule attachment and aneuploidy in mice

This study shows that initial central spindle positioning in mouse oocytes prevents incorrect kinetochore-microtubule attachment and aneuploidy by avoiding premature cortical CDC42 signaling.

Molecular and evolutionary strategies of meiotic cheating by selfish centromeres

The paper investigates how selfish centromeres evolve to bias transmission during meiosis by altering histone phosphorylation and microtubule dynamics, and shows that centromere drive depends on slowing meiotic progression.

Spindle asymmetry drives non-Mendelian chromosome segregation

The paper shows that spindle asymmetry, regulated by CDC42 signaling and microtubule tyrosination, enables non-Mendelian chromosome segregation during female meiosis.