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Kinetochore orientation during meiosis is controlled by Aurora B and the monopolin complex

Fernando Monje-Casas1, Vineet R Prabhu, Brian H Lee

  • 1Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Cell
|February 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The monopolin complex and Aurora B kinase regulate chromosome-microtubule attachments in meiosis I and II. The monopolin complex links sister kinetochores, aiding Aurora B in coorienting chromosomes during meiosis I.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis is crucial for sexual reproduction.
  • Kinetochore-microtubule attachments must be precisely regulated for proper chromosome segregation in meiosis I and II.
  • The Aurora B kinase and the monopolin complex are implicated in regulating these attachments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the roles of Aurora B kinase (Ipl1) and the monopolin complex in kinetochore-microtubule attachment during meiosis.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which the monopolin complex ensures sister chromatid coorientation in meiosis I.
  • To understand the relationship between monopolin complex function, cohesins, and sister kinetochore coorientation.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental manipulation of kinetochore-microtubule attachment conditions.
  • Analysis of the function of the Aurora B kinase (Ipl1) and the monopolin complex.
  • Investigating the interaction of the monopolin complex with cohesins.

Main Results:

  • Aurora B kinase (Ipl1) regulates kinetochore-microtubule attachment in both meiosis I and II.
  • The monopolin complex is essential for coorienting sister chromatids during meiosis I.
  • The monopolin complex binds sister kinetochores independently of cohesins.

Conclusions:

  • The monopolin complex plays a key role in establishing correct chromosome-microtubule attachments during meiosis I.
  • The ability of the monopolin complex to join sister kinetochores independently of cohesins is critical for its function in coorientation.
  • This mechanism likely contributes to the accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis I.

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