A mathematical model of force generation by flexible kinetochore-microtubule attachments

Important mechanical events during mitosis are facilitated by the generation of force by chromosomal kinetochore sites that attach to dynamic microtubule tips. Several theoretical models have been proposed for how these sites generate force, and molecular diffusion of kinetochore components has been proposed as a key component that facilitates kinetochore function. However, these models do not explicitly take into account the recently observed flexibility of kinetochore components and variations in microtubule shape under load. In this paper, we develop a mathematical model for kinetochore-microtubule connections that directly incorporates these two important components, namely, flexible kinetochore binder elements, and the effects of tension load on the shape of shortening microtubule tips. We compare our results with existing biased diffusion models and explore the role of protein flexibility inforce generation at the kinetochore-microtubule junctions. Our model results suggest that kinetochore component flexibility and microtubule shape variation under load significantly diminish the need for high diffusivity (or weak specific binding) of kinetochore components; optimal kinetochore binder stiffness regimes are predicted by our model. Based on our model results, we suggest that the underlying principles of biased diffusion paradigm need to be reinterpreted.