Richard E Baker PhD
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Title Associate Professor
Institution University of Massachusetts Medical School
Department Microbiology & Physiological Systems
Address University of Massachusetts Medical School
 55 Lake Ave North
 Worcester MA 01655
Telephone 508/856-6046
Email
Other Positions
Institution UMMS - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Narrative

Academic Background

Ph. D. (1980) Pennsylvania State University

Molecular Mechanisms of Chromosome Segregation

Photo: Richard E. BakerThe centromere is the region on the chromosome at which spindle microtubules attach during mitosis and meiosis. Proper function of the centromere and its associated organelle, the kinetochore, is absolutely essential for the transmission of the cell's genetic material. Research in my laboratory is aimed at understanding the molecular details of centromere structure and function. As a model eukaryote, we study the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have identified proteins which specifically bind to yeast centromeric DNA and are currently analyzing their possible roles as components of the kinetochore. Using "reverse genetics", we hope to isolate the genes encoding these proteins and begin a genetic analysis of the centromere/kinetochore complex. While our experiments are strongly biochemically oriented, we rely heavily on the use of recombinant DNA techniques as well as classical yeast genetics.
Publications
1. Mishra PK, Au WC, Choy JS, Kuich PH, Baker RE, Foltz DR, Basrai MA. Misregulation of Scm3p/HJURP Causes Chromosome Instability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Human Cells. PLoS Genet. 2011 Sep; 7(9):e1002303.
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2. Staszewski O, Baker RE, Ucher AJ, Martier R, Stavnezer J, Guikema JE. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase induces reproducible DNA breaks at many non-Ig Loci in activated B cells. Mol Cell. 2011 Jan 21; 41(2):232-42.
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3. Baker RE. CENP-A targeting moves a step back. Mol Cell. 2009 Feb 27; 33(4):411-3.
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4. Stoler S, Rogers K, Weitze S, Morey L, Fitzgerald-Hayes M, Baker RE. Scm3, an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae centromere protein required for G2/M progression and Cse4 localization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jun 19; 104(25):10571-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
5. Baker RE, Rogers K. Phylogenetic analysis of fungal centromere H3 proteins. Genetics. 2006 Nov; 174(3):1481-92.
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6. Baker RE, Rogers K. Genetic and genomic analysis of the AT-rich centromere DNA element II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics. 2005 Dec; 171(4):1463-75.
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7. Morey L, Barnes K, Chen Y, Fitzgerald-Hayes M, Baker RE. The histone fold domain of Cse4 is sufficient for CEN targeting and propagation of active centromeres in budding yeast. Eukaryot Cell. 2004 Dec; 3(6):1533-43.
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8. Baker RE, Harris K, Zhang K. Mutations synthetically lethal with cep1 target S. cerevisiae kinetochore components. Genetics. 1998 May; 149(1):73-85.
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9. O'Connell KF, Surdin-Kerjan Y, Baker RE. Role of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae general regulatory factor CP1 in methionine biosynthetic gene transcription. Mol Cell Biol. 1995 Apr; 15(4):1879-88.
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10. Masison DC, O'Connell KF, Baker RE. Mutational analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae general regulatory factor CP1. Nucleic Acids Res. 1993 Aug 25; 21(17):4133-41.
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11. O'Connell KF, Baker RE. Possible cross-regulation of phosphate and sulfate metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics. 1992 Sep; 132(1):63-73.
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12. Masison DC, Baker RE. Meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants lacking the centromere-binding protein CP1. Genetics. 1992 May; 131(1):43-53.
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13. Baker RE, Masison DC. Isolation of the gene encoding the Saccharomyces cerevisiae centromere-binding protein CP1. Mol Cell Biol. 1990 Jun; 10(6):2458-67.
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14. Baker RE, Fitzgerald-Hayes M, O'Brien TC. Purification of the yeast centromere binding protein CP1 and a mutational analysis of its binding site. J Biol Chem. 1989 Jun 25; 264(18):10843-50.
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Co-Authors  
Harris, Kathryn
Stavnezer, Janet
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Physical Neighbors  
He, Feng
Murphy, Kenan
Woodland, Robert
Iorio, Ronald
Wong, Sandy

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