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Attachment of Sister Chromatids

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules. Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall of a...

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules. Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall of a...

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis.
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis.
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Studying Mitotic Checkpoint by Illustrating Dynamic Kinetochore Protein Behavior and Chromosome Motion in Living Drosophila Syncytial Embryos

Studying Mitotic Checkpoint by Illustrating Dynamic Kinetochore Protein Behavior and Chromosome Motion in Living Drosophila Syncytial Embryos

Published on: June 14, 2012

Keeping kinetochores on track.

Patrick Meraldi¹

¹Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Schafmattstrasse 18, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland. patrick.meraldi@bc.biol.ethz.ch

European Journal of Cell Biology

|November 23, 2011

Summary

Kinetochores, crucial for cell division, are complex protein structures. Recent advances focus on understanding their architecture, protein functions, and regulation for accurate chromosome segregation and cell cycle control.

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Kinetochores are essential protein complexes that mediate chromosome segregation during cell division.
Their intricate structure comprises over a hundred proteins organized into functional subcomplexes.
Understanding kinetochore composition and function is vital for cell cycle regulation and preventing aneuploidy.

Purpose of the Study:

To review key advances in kinetochore biology over the past six years.
To elucidate the structural architecture and functional roles of kinetochore subcomplexes.
To understand the regulatory mechanisms governing kinetochore-microtubule interactions and spindle checkpoint signaling.

Main Methods:

Genetic screens and analysis in model organisms.

More Related Videos

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Published on: December 5, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Studying Mitotic Checkpoint by Illustrating Dynamic Kinetochore Protein Behavior and Chromosome Motion in Living Drosophila Syncytial Embryos

Studying Mitotic Checkpoint by Illustrating Dynamic Kinetochore Protein Behavior and Chromosome Motion in Living Drosophila Syncytial Embryos

Published on: June 14, 2012

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Published on: December 5, 2017

Cell biological techniques for visualizing kinetochore structure and dynamics.

Biochemical assays to determine protein interactions and complex formation.

Bioinformatic approaches for large-scale data analysis.

Main Results:

Identification and characterization of novel kinetochore proteins and subcomplexes.
Detailed structural insights into kinetochore organization and assembly.
Elucidation of how kinetochores respond to microtubule dynamics and attachment errors.
Advances in understanding the regulation of the spindle assembly checkpoint.

Conclusions:

Significant progress has been made in deciphering kinetochore complexity and function.
Continued research is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of chromosome segregation fidelity.
Kinetochore research holds potential for insights into developmental disorders and cancer.