Home › Colleges & Schools▻College of Science▻Staff Profiles

Staff Profiles

Kevin Sullivan

Personal Professor Ph.D

Contact Details

Personal Professor
Biochemistry
Nui Galway

T: Ext. 2434
E: kevin.sullivan@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Research Interests

Research in my laboratory focuses on mechanisms of centromeric chromatin fiber assembly and propagation in the cell cycle. Working primarily in human cells, we examine the assembly pathways of chromatin proteins in live cells and couple this with functional analysis of cells. In this way we hope to understand how centromeres give rise to kinetochores in mitosis, the assembly pathways and design principles that accomplish this, and how it is subsequently prepared for replication in the next cell cycle. Our work integrates biochemistry, cell and molecular biology to study a key target of cancer chemotherapy: the dividing human cell.

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2015) 'Centromere sliding on a mammalian chromosome'
Purgato, S,Belloni, E,Piras, FM,Zoli, M,Badiale, C,Cerutti, F,Mazzagatti, A,Perini, G,Della Valle, G,Nergadze, SG,Sullivan, KF,Raimondi, E,Rocchi, M,Giulotto, E (2015) 'Centromere sliding on a mammalian chromosome'. Chromosoma, 124 :277-287 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'CENP-W Plays a Role in Maintaining Bipolar Spindle Structure'
Kaczmarczyk, A,Sullivan, KF (2014) 'CENP-W Plays a Role in Maintaining Bipolar Spindle Structure'. Plos One, 9 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'A CENP-S/X complex assembles at the centromere in S and G2 phases of the human cell cycle'
Dornblut, C,Quinn, N,Monajambashi, S,Prendergast, L,van Vuuren, C,Munch, S,Deng, W,Leonhardt, H,Cardoso, MC,Hoischen, C,Diekmann, S,Sullivan, KF (2014) 'A CENP-S/X complex assembles at the centromere in S and G2 phases of the human cell cycle'. Open Biology, 4 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Esperanto for histones: CENP-A, not CenH3, is the centromeric histone H3 variant'
Earnshaw, WC,Allshire, RC,Black, BE,Bloom, K,Brinkley, BR,Brown, W,Cheeseman, IM,Choo, KHA,Copenhaver, GP,DeLuca, JG,Desai, A,Diekmann, S,Erhardt, S,Fitzgerald-Hayes, M,Foltz, D,Fukagawa, T,Gassmann, R,Gerlich, DW,Glover, DM,Gorbsky, GJ,Harrison, SC,Heun, P,Hirota, T,Jansen, LET,Karpen, G,Kops, GJPL,Lampson, MA,Lens, SM,Losada, A,Luger, K,Maiato, H,Maddox, PS,Margolis, RL,Masumoto, H,McAinsh, AD,Mellone, BG,Meraldi, P,Musacchio, A,Oegema, K,O'Neill, RJ,Salmon, ED,Scott, KC,Straight, AF,Stukenberg, PT,Sullivan, BA,Sullivan, KF,Sunkel, CE,Swedlow, JR,Walczak, CE,Warburton, PE,Westermann, S,Willard, HF,Wordeman, L,Yanagida, M,Yen, TJ,Yoda, K,Cleveland, DW (2013) 'Esperanto for histones: CENP-A, not CenH3, is the centromeric histone H3 variant'. Chromosome Research, 21 :101-106 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Premitotic Assembly of Human CENPs -T and -W Switches Centromeric Chromatin to a Mitotic State'
Prendergast, L,van Vuuren, C,Kaczmarczyk, A,Doering, V,Hellwig, D,Quinn, N,Hoischen, C,Diekmann, S,Sullivan, KF (2011) 'Premitotic Assembly of Human CENPs -T and -W Switches Centromeric Chromatin to a Mitotic State'. Plos Biology, 9 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'A GTPase switch maintains CENP-A at centromeric chromatin'
Prendergast L, Sullivan KF. (2010) 'A GTPase switch maintains CENP-A at centromeric chromatin'. Nat Cell Biol, 12 (12):1128-1130 [DOI] [Details]
(2007) 'DNA methylation promotes Aurora-B-driven phosphorylation of histone H3 in chromosomal subdomains'
Monier K, Mouradian S, Sullivan KF. (2007) 'DNA methylation promotes Aurora-B-driven phosphorylation of histone H3 in chromosomal subdomains'. J Cell Sci, 120 :101-114 [Details]
(2003) 'Suppression of centromere dynamics by Taxol in living osteosarcoma cells'
Kelling J, Sullivan K, Wilson L, Jordan MA. (2003) 'Suppression of centromere dynamics by Taxol in living osteosarcoma cells'. Cancer Res, 63 :2794-2801 [Details]
(2001) 'Differential regulation of CENP-A and histone H3 phosphorylation in G2/M'
Zeitlin, S.G., Barber, C.M., Allis, C.D. and Sullivan, K.F. (2001) 'Differential regulation of CENP-A and histone H3 phosphorylation in G2/M'. J Cell Science, 114 :653-661 [Details]
(2001) 'Degradation of nucleosome-associated centromeric histone H3-like protein CENP-A induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 protein ICP0'
Lomonte P, Sullivan KF, Everett RD. (2001) 'Degradation of nucleosome-associated centromeric histone H3-like protein CENP-A induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 protein ICP0'. J Biol Chem, 276 :5829-5835 [Details]
(2001) 'Specification of kinetochore-forming chromatin by the histone H3 variant CENP-A'
Van Hooser, A.A., Ouspenski, I.I., Gregson, H.C., Starr, D.A., Yen, T.J., Goldberg, M.L., Yokomori, K., Earnshaw, W.C., Sullivan, K.F., and Brinkley, B.R. (2001) 'Specification of kinetochore-forming chromatin by the histone H3 variant CENP-A'. J Cell Sci, 114 :3529-3542 [Details]
(2001) 'Phospho-histone antibody immunofluorescence for analysis of cell cycle progression in G2 and prophase'
Zeitlin, S.G., Monier, K. & Sullivan, K.F. (2001) 'Phospho-histone antibody immunofluorescence for analysis of cell cycle progression in G2 and prophase'. Chemtracts Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 14 :557-562 [Details]
(2001) 'CENP-A is phosphorylated by Aurora B kinase and plays an unexpected role in completion of cytokinesis'
Zeitlin, S.G., Shelby, R.D. and Sullivan, K.F. (2001) 'CENP-A is phosphorylated by Aurora B kinase and plays an unexpected role in completion of cytokinesis'. J Cell Biol, 155 :1147-1158 [Details]
(2001) 'Large-scale chromatin fibers of living cells display a discontinuous functional organization'
Sadoni N, Sullivan KF, Weinzierl P, Stelzer EH, Zink D. (2001) 'Large-scale chromatin fibers of living cells display a discontinuous functional organization'. Chromosoma, 110 :39-51 [Details]
(2000) 'CENP-E links bi-polar spindle microtubule attachment at kinetochores to the mitotic checkpoint'
Yao, X., Arbeau, A., Zheng, Y, Sullivan, K.F. and Cleveland, D.W. (2000) 'CENP-E links bi-polar spindle microtubule attachment at kinetochores to the mitotic checkpoint'. Nature Cell Biology, 2 :484-491 [Details]
(2000) 'Chromatin assembly at kinetochores is uncoupled from DNA replication'
Shelby, R.D., Monier, K. and Sullivan, K.F. (2000) 'Chromatin assembly at kinetochores is uncoupled from DNA replication'. J Cell Biol, 151 :1113-1118 [Details]
(2000) 'CENP-E forms a link between attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores and the mitotic checkpoint'
Yao X, Abrieu A, Zheng Y, Sullivan KF, Cleveland DW (2000) 'CENP-E forms a link between attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores and the mitotic checkpoint'. Nat Cell Biol, 2 (8):484-489 [Details]
(2000) 'Annexation of the interchromosomal space during viral infection'
Monier, K., Armas, J.C.G., Etteldorf, S., Ghazal, P and Sullivan, K.F. (2000) 'Annexation of the interchromosomal space during viral infection'. Nature Cell Biology, 2 :661-665 [Details]
(1999) 'CENP-A associated complex satellite DNA in the kinetochore of the Indian muntjac'
Vafa, O., Shelby, R.D. and Sullivan, K.F. (1999) 'CENP-A associated complex satellite DNA in the kinetochore of the Indian muntjac'. Chromosoma, 108 :367-374 [Details]
(1999) 'Enlightening mitosis: construction and expression of green fluorescent fusion proteins'
Sullivan, K.F. (1999) 'Enlightening mitosis: construction and expression of green fluorescent fusion proteins'. Methods Cell Biol, 61 :113-135 [Details]
(1999) 'Using time-lapse confocal microscopy for analysis of centromere dynamics in human cells'
Sullivan, K.F., and Shelby, R.D. (1999) 'Using time-lapse confocal microscopy for analysis of centromere dynamics in human cells'. Methods Cell Biol, 58 :183-202 [Details]
(1998) 'Isolation and comparison of natural and recombinant human CENP-A autoantigen'
Martinez, A., Sun, D., Billings, P.B., Swiderek, K.M., Sullivan, K.F., and Hoch S.O. (1998) 'Isolation and comparison of natural and recombinant human CENP-A autoantigen'. J Autoimmun, 11 :611-619 [Details]
(1998) 'Histone-GFP fusion protein enables sensitive analysis of chromosome dynamics in living mammalian cells'
Kanda, T., Sullivan, K.F., and Wahl, G.M. (1998) 'Histone-GFP fusion protein enables sensitive analysis of chromosome dynamics in living mammalian cells'. Curr Biol, 8 :377-385 [Details]
(1997) 'Assembly of CENP-A into centromeric chromatin requires a cooperative array of nucleosomal DNA contact sites'
Shelby, R.D., Vafa, O., and Sullivan, K.F. (1997) 'Assembly of CENP-A into centromeric chromatin requires a cooperative array of nucleosomal DNA contact sites'. J Cell Biol, 136 :501-513 [Details]
(1997) 'Chromatin containing CENP-A and a-satellite DNA is a major component of the inner kinetochore plate'
Vafa, O. and Sullivan, K.F. (1997) 'Chromatin containing CENP-A and a-satellite DNA is a major component of the inner kinetochore plate'. Curr Biol, 7 :897-900 [Details]
(1997) 'Immunolocalization of CENP-A suggests a distinct nucleosome structure at the inner kinetochore plate of active centromeres'
Warburton, P.E., Cooke, C.A., Bourassa, S., Vafa, O., Sullivan, B.A., Stetten, G., Gimeli, G., Warburton, D., Tyler-Smith, C., Sullivan, K.F., Poirier, G.G. and Earnshaw, W.C. (1997) 'Immunolocalization of CENP-A suggests a distinct nucleosome structure at the inner kinetochore plate of active centromeres'. Curr Biol, 7 :901-904 [Details]
(1996) 'Detection of anticentromere antibodies using recombinant human CENP-A protein'
Sun, D., Martinez, A., Sullivan, K.F., Sharp, G.C., and Hoch, S.O. (1996) 'Detection of anticentromere antibodies using recombinant human CENP-A protein'. Arthritis Rheum, 39 :863-867 [Details]
(1996) 'Dynamic elastic behavior of a satellite DNA domains visualized in situ in living human cells'
Shelby, R.D., Hahn, K.M. and Sullivan, K.F. (1996) 'Dynamic elastic behavior of a satellite DNA domains visualized in situ in living human cells'. J Cell Biol, 135 :545-557 [Details]
(1995) 'beta-Tubulin mutation suppresses microtubule dynamics in vitro and slows mitosis in vivo'
Sage, C.R., Davis, A.S., Dougherty, C.A., Sullivan, K., and Farrell, K.W. (1995) 'beta-Tubulin mutation suppresses microtubule dynamics in vitro and slows mitosis in vivo'. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, 30 :285-300 [Details]
(1994) 'Human CENP-A contains a histone H3 related histone fold domain that is required for targeting to the centromere'
Sullivan, K.F., Hechenberger, M., and Masri, K. (1994) 'Human CENP-A contains a histone H3 related histone fold domain that is required for targeting to the centromere'. J Cell Biol, 127 :581-592 [Details]
(1991) 'LKM-1 autoantibodies recognize a short linear sequence in P450IID6, a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase'
Manns, M.P., Griffin, K.J., Sullivan, K.F., and Johnson, E.F. (1991) 'LKM-1 autoantibodies recognize a short linear sequence in P450IID6, a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase'. J Clin Invest, 88 :1370-1378 [Details]
(1991) 'CENP-B is a highly conserved mammalian centromere protein with homology to the helix-loop-helix family of proteins'
Sullivan, K.F. and Glass, C.A. (1991) 'CENP-B is a highly conserved mammalian centromere protein with homology to the helix-loop-helix family of proteins'. Chromosoma 1, 100 :360-370 [Details]
(1990) 'Patients with type II autoimmune hepatitis express functionally intact cytochrome P-450 db1 that is inhibited by LKM-1 autoantibodies in vitro but not in vivo'
Manns, M., Zanger, U., Gerken, G., Sullivan, K.F., Meyer zum Buschenfelde, K.H., Meyer, U.A., and Eichelbaum, M. (1990) 'Patients with type II autoimmune hepatitis express functionally intact cytochrome P-450 db1 that is inhibited by LKM-1 autoantibodies in vitro but not in vivo'. Hepatology, 12 :127-132 [Details]
(1990) 'Optimization of routine transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmid DNA'
Huff, J.P., Grant, B.J., Penning, C.A., and Sullivan, K.F. (1990) 'Optimization of routine transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmid DNA'. Biotechniques, 9 :570-572 [Details]
(1990) 'Insights into native epitopes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen using recombinant DNA protein products'
Huff, J.P., Roos, G., Peebles, C.L., Houghten, R., Sullivan, K.F., and Tan, E.M. (1990) 'Insights into native epitopes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen using recombinant DNA protein products'. J Exp Med, 172 :419-429 [Details]
(1990) 'In vitro posttranslational modification of lamin B cloned from a human T-cell line'
Pollard, K.M., Chan, E.K., Grant, B.J., Sullivan, K.F., Tan, E.M., and Glass, C.A. (1990) 'In vitro posttranslational modification of lamin B cloned from a human T-cell line'. Mol Cell Biol, 10 :2164-2175 [Details]
(1989) 'Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding the 60-kD component of the human SS-A/Ro ribonucleoprotein autoantigen'
Ben-Chetrit, E., Gandy, B.J., Tan, E.M., and Sullivan, K.F. (1989) 'Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding the 60-kD component of the human SS-A/Ro ribonucleoprotein autoantigen'. J Clin Invest, 83 :1284-1292 [Details]
(1989) 'Major antigen of liver kidney microsomal autoantibodies in idiopathic autoimmune hepatitis is cytochrome P450db1'
Manns, M.P., Johnson, E.F., Griffin, K.J., Tan, E.M., and Sullivan, K.F. (1989) 'Major antigen of liver kidney microsomal autoantibodies in idiopathic autoimmune hepatitis is cytochrome P450db1'. J Clin Invest, 83 :1066-1072 [Details]
(1989) 'Ribonucleoprotein SS-B/La belongs to a protein family with consensus sequences for RNA-binding'
Chan, E.K., Sullivan, K.F., and Tan, E.M. (1989) 'Ribonucleoprotein SS-B/La belongs to a protein family with consensus sequences for RNA-binding'. Nucleic Acids Res, 17 :2233-2244 [Details]
(1989) 'Sjogren's syndrome nuclear antigen B La : cDNA cloning, structural domains, and autoepitopes'
Chan, E.K., Sullivan, K.F., Fox, R.I., and Tan, E.M. (1989) 'Sjogren's syndrome nuclear antigen B La : cDNA cloning, structural domains, and autoepitopes'. J Autoimmun, 2 :321-327 [Details]
(1988) 'A 52-kD protein is a novel component of the SS-A/Ro antigenic particle'
Ben-Chetrit, E., Chan, E.K., Sullivan, K.F., and Tan, E.M. (1988) 'A 52-kD protein is a novel component of the SS-A/Ro antigenic particle'. J Exp Med, 167 :1560-1571 [Details]
(1987) 'Molecular cloning of cDNA for CENP-B, the major human centromere autoantigen'
Earnshaw, W.C., Sullivan, K.F., Machlin, P.S., Cooke, C.A., Kaiser, D.A., Pollard, TD, Rothfield, N.F., and Cleveland, D.W. (1987) 'Molecular cloning of cDNA for CENP-B, the major human centromere autoantigen'. J Cell Biol, 104 :817-829 [Details]
(1987) 'Autoantibody to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen neutralizes the activity of the auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase delta'
Tan, C.K., Sullivan, K., Li, X.Y., Tan, E.M., Downey, K.M., and So, A.G. (1987) 'Autoantibody to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen neutralizes the activity of the auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase delta'. Nucleic Acids Res, 15 :9299-9308 [Details]
(1987) 'Proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin is an interleukin 2- responsive gene'
Moore, K.S., Sullivan, K., Tan, E.M., and Prystowsky, M.B. (1987) 'Proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin is an interleukin 2- responsive gene'. J Biol Chem, 262 :8447-8450 [Details]
(1986) 'Identification of conserved isotype-defining variable region sequences for four vertebrate beta tubulin polypeptide classes'
Sullivan, K.F. and Cleveland, D.W. (1986) 'Identification of conserved isotype-defining variable region sequences for four vertebrate beta tubulin polypeptide classes'. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 83 :4327-4331 [Details]
(1986) 'Sequence and expression of the chicken beta 3 tubulin gene'
Sullivan, K.F., Machlin, P.S., Ratrie, H., and Cleveland, D.W. (1986) 'Sequence and expression of the chicken beta 3 tubulin gene'. A vertebrate testis beta-tubulin isotype J Biol Chem, 261 :13317-13322 [Details]
(1986) 'Sequence and expression of the chicken beta 5- and beta 4- tubulin genes define a pair of divergent beta-tubulins with complementary patterns of expression'
Sullivan, K.F., Havercroft, J.C., Machlin, P.S., and Cleveland, D.W. (1986) 'Sequence and expression of the chicken beta 5- and beta 4- tubulin genes define a pair of divergent beta-tubulins with complementary patterns of expression'. Mol Cell Biol 6, 6 :4409-4418 [Details]
(1985) 'Apparent gene conversion between beta-tubulin genes yields multiple regulatory pathways for a single beta-tubulin polypeptide isotype'
Sullivan, K.F., Lau, J.T., and Cleveland, D.W. (1985) 'Apparent gene conversion between beta-tubulin genes yields multiple regulatory pathways for a single beta-tubulin polypeptide isotype'. Mol Cell Biol, 5 :2454-2465 [Details]
(1984) 'Developmental and biochemical analysis of chick brain tubulin heterogeneity'
Sullivan, K.F. and Wilson, L. (1984) 'Developmental and biochemical analysis of chick brain tubulin heterogeneity'. J Neurochem, 42 :1363-1371 [Details]
(1984) 'Sequence of a highly divergent beta tubulin gene reveals regional heterogeneity in the beta tubulin polypeptide'
Sullivan, K.F. and Cleveland, D.W. (1984) 'Sequence of a highly divergent beta tubulin gene reveals regional heterogeneity in the beta tubulin polypeptide'. J Cell Biol, 99 :1754-1760 [Details]
(1984) 'Colchicine-binding activity distinguishes sea urchin egg and outer doublet tubulins'
Wilson, L., Miller, H.P., Pfeffer, T.A., Sullivan, K.F., and Detrich, H.W. (1984) 'Colchicine-binding activity distinguishes sea urchin egg and outer doublet tubulins'. J Cell Biol, 99 :37-41 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2008) 'Fluorescent Proteins, in Fluorescent Proteins'
Dobie, IM, Lowndes, NF and Sullivan, KF (2008) 'Fluorescent Proteins, in Fluorescent Proteins' In: Methods in Cell Biology. [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2008)
Sullivan, KF (Ed.). (2008) Fluorescent Proteins: Methods Cell Biol v. 85. New York: Elsevier. [Details]
(1998)
Sullivan, KF; Kay, S (Ed.). (1998) Green Fluorescent Proteins: Methods in Cell Biol v. 58. New York: Academic Press. [Details]

Correction

  Year Publication
(2015) Centromere sliding on a mammalian chromosome (vol 124, pg 277, 2015).
Purgato, S,Belloni, E,Piras, FM,Zoli, M,Badiale, C,Cerutti, F,Mazzagatti, A,Perini, G,Della Valle, G,Nergadze, SG,Sullivan, KF,Raimondi, E,Rocchi, M,Giulotto, E (2015) Centromere sliding on a mammalian chromosome (vol 124, pg 277, 2015). Correction [DOI] [Details]

Editorial

  Year Publication
(2010) A GTPase switch maintains CENP-A at centromeric chromatin.
Prendergast, L,Sullivan, KF (2010) A GTPase switch maintains CENP-A at centromeric chromatin. Editorial [DOI] [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2010) Centromeres: assembling and propagating epigenetic function. Subcell Biochem.
Glynn M, Kaczmarczyk A, Prendergast L, Quinn N, Sullivan KF. (2010) Centromeres: assembling and propagating epigenetic function. Subcell Biochem. Reviews [Details]
(2009) Targeted focal therapy for prostate cancer: a review. Curr Opin Urol.
Hou AH, Sullivan KF, Crawford ED. (2009) Targeted focal therapy for prostate cancer: a review. Curr Opin Urol. Reviews [Details]
(2008) Autofluorescent proteins.
Dobbie, IM,Lowndes, NF,Sullivan, KF (2008) Autofluorescent proteins. Reviews [DOI] [Details]
(2003) Centromeres and kinetochores: from epigenetics to mitotic checkpoint signaling. Cell.
Cleveland DW, Mao Y, Sullivan KF. (2003) Centromeres and kinetochores: from epigenetics to mitotic checkpoint signaling. Cell. Reviews [Details]
(2001) A solid foundation: functional specialization of centromeric chromatin. Curr Opin Genet Dev.
Sullivan KF (2001) A solid foundation: functional specialization of centromeric chromatin. Curr Opin Genet Dev. Reviews [Details]
(2001) Animal cytokinesis: breaking up is hard to do. Curr Biol.
Zeitlin SG, Sullivan KF. (2001) Animal cytokinesis: breaking up is hard to do. Curr Biol. Reviews [Details]