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Mitotic checkpoints: from yeast to cancer
1Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Sloan-Kettering Division, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, Box 241, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|February 13, 2001
Summary
The mitotic spindle checkpoint ensures correct chromosome attachment during cell division. Its failure can cause chromosome missegregation and genomic instability, potentially leading to cancer.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Mitosis requires accurate chromosome segregation for genomic stability.
- The mitotic spindle checkpoint monitors chromosome attachment to the spindle.
- Dysfunctional checkpoints are linked to aneuploidy and cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the known molecular mechanisms of the mitotic spindle checkpoint.
- To discuss the consequences of checkpoint failure in higher eukaryotes.
- To explore the link between checkpoint dysfunction and human cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of molecular mechanisms.
- Analysis of studies on chromosome missegregation.
- Review of cancer genomics data.
Main Results:
- Key molecular players in the checkpoint have been identified.
- Loss of checkpoint function leads to chromosome missegregation.
- Genomic instability in cancer may arise from checkpoint defects.
Conclusions:
- The mitotic spindle checkpoint is crucial for preventing aneuploidy.
- Checkpoint failure is a significant factor in the development of human cancers.
- Further research into this checkpoint could yield cancer therapies.
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