María Maldonado

Presented by Frederick R. Cross on behalf of Tarun Kapoor
member of the graduating class of 2013
B.A., M.Sci., University of Cambridge
Examining the Regulation of Cell Division by the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

When we enter a different country we need valid passports to satisfy immigration officers and no contraband to keep customs officials happy. Similarly, our cells have molecular checkpoints to ensure that transitions between different states are only made when everything is in order. In particular, checkpoints ensure that our cells do not lose any of their DNA when they split into two daughters. This division process is repeated about 10,000 trillion times in our lifetimes and errors can lead to developmental defects and diseases.

María Maldonado devised a very clever solution to address the long-standing problem of determining which proteins detect errors during cell division and which correct errors. She engineered a checkpoint protein so that the checkpoint was blocked. In essence, she instructed a customs officer to not let anyone through the gate, but to allow all preceding steps to continue without interference.

Her powerful approach helped dissect the functions of many different proteins, including enzymes that are targets of new drugs being developed to treat cancer, at distinct steps of the cell division checkpoint. Her findings have uncovered fundamental cellular mechanisms and are likely to help improve anti-cancer therapeutics.

My lab members and I truly enjoyed working with such a creative and talented scientist. María currently holds the record for efficiency in completing thesis work in my laboratory. Not surprisingly, she has already completed another advanced degree in business.