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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...

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

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

The Mitotic Spindle

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures...

The Mitotic Spindle

The Mitotic Spindle

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 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

The kinetochore.

Iain M Cheeseman¹

¹Whitehead Institute and Department of Biology, MIT Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

|July 3, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Accurate cell division relies on the kinetochore, a complex protein structure. This review details how kinetochores ensure proper chromosome segregation during mitosis for genetic stability.

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

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Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Mitosis requires precise distribution of genetic material to daughter cells.
The kinetochore is a macromolecular structure essential for chromosome segregation.
Kinetochores link chromosomal DNA to spindle microtubules.

Purpose of the Study:

To review key kinetochore activities in mitotic chromosome segregation.
To highlight the mechanisms ensuring high-fidelity segregation.

Main Methods:

Literature review of kinetochore function in mitosis.
Analysis of kinetochore assembly and regulation.
Examination of kinetochore-microtubule interactions and force generation.

Main Results:

Kinetochores recognize specific chromosomal sites.
Kinetochore assembly forms crucial connections with microtubules.
Force generation by kinetochores drives chromosome movement.
Regulation ensures accurate segregation.

Conclusions:

Kinetochore function is vital for faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis.
Understanding kinetochore activities is key to cell division fidelity.