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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
11:19
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cytokinetic Events in Fission Yeast
Published on: February 20, 2017
Kinetochores and microtubules wed without a ring
1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA. kerry_bloom@unc.edu
Cell
|October 30, 2008
Summary
Proper chromosome segregation relies on spindle microtubules attaching to kinetochores. New research reveals fibrils connecting kinetochores to microtubule ends, proposing a novel model for chromosome movement forces.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Accurate chromosome segregation during cell division is crucial for maintaining genomic stability.
- Spindle microtubules attach to kinetochores, complex protein structures on chromosomes, to facilitate chromosome movement.
Discussion:
- McIntosh et al. utilized electron tomography in mammalian cells to investigate kinetochore-microtubule attachments.
- The study identified novel fibrillar structures linking the inner kinetochore to the curved protofilaments at microtubule ends.
Key Insights:
- These fibrils suggest a previously unrecognized mechanism for force generation and transmission during mitosis.
- This finding challenges existing models of kinetochore-microtubule interaction and chromosome motility.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise composition and dynamics of these fibrils.
- Understanding this new model could lead to insights into aneuploidy and related diseases.
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