The AMP-activated protein kinase-related kinase (ARK) family comprises 13 proteins, amongst them NUAK1, that can be classified into five subfamilies: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), salt-induced kinase (SIK), microtubule-affinity-regulating kinase (MARK), brain specific kinase (BRSK), and SNF1-like kinase 1 (NUAK). These proteins regulate biological responses such as metabolism, polarity, ...

The mitotic checkpoint is the major cell cycle checkpoint acting during mitosis to prevent aneuploidy and chromosomal instability, which are hallmarks of tumor cells. Reduced expression of the mitotic checkpoint component Mad1 causes aneuploidy and promotes tumors in mice [Iwanaga Y, et al. (2007) Cancer Res 67:160-166]. However, the prevalence and consequences of Mad1 overexpression are curren...

Infertility in humans is surprisingly common occurring in approximately 15% of the population wishing to start a family. Despite this, the molecular and genetic factors underlying the cause of infertility remain largely undiscovered. Nevertheless, more and more genetic factors associated with infertility are being identified. This review will focus on our current understanding of the chromosoma...

BACKGROUND Multicolour fluorescent in situ hybridization was utilized to detect sperm aneuploidy for chromosomes 13, 21, X and Y in testicular cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma chemotherapy patients. METHODS Aneuploidy was assessed before, and 6, 12 and/or 18-24 months after, the initiation of chemotherapy, and compared with age matched controls. 635 396 sperm were scored blindly with 5000 sperm/pa...

Although selection of chromosomally normal embryos has the potential to improve outcomes for patients undergoing IVF, the clinical impact of aneuploidy screening by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been controversial. There are many putative explanations including sampling error due to mosaicism, negative impact of biopsy, a lack of comprehensive chromosome screening, the possibili...

BACKGROUND Low functional ovarian reserve (LFOR) has been associated with hypoandrogenemia and increased embryo aneuploidy, while androgen supplementation has been reported to improve aneuploidy rates. We, therefore, assessed whether in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) androgen concentrations are associated with aneuploidy rates. METHODS This study was performed in 2 ac...