The survivin/Aurora B complex: its role in coordinating tension and attachment

Proper chromosome segregation relies on the action of the spindle checkpoint. Recent data have shown that the chromosomal passenger proteins survivin and Aurora B play an important auxiliary role in spindle checkpoint surveillance. Knock-down experiments in human cells indicate that the function of the survivin/Aurora B complex is required to correct improper microtubule-kinetochore interactions. Combined data of four different groups show that the survivin/Aurora B complex is not an integral component of the spindle checkpoint, but it enables the cell to communicate lack of tension back to the attached microtubules. Moreover, they show that the affinity of BubR1 for kinetochores is directly influenced by the absence or presence of the survivin/Aurora B complex. These functions of the survivin/Aurora B complex are essential for chromosome biorientation, a prerequisite for proper chromosome segregation. As such, this complex plays an important role in the maintenance of a stable genome.