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Attachment of Sister Chromatids

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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...

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The Tubulin Code: A Navigation System for Chromosomes during Mitosis.

Marin Barisic¹, Helder Maiato²

¹Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Cell Division Laboratory, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Trends in Cell Biology

|June 27, 2016

Summary

Tubulin post-translational modifications (PTMs) act as a navigation system, guiding chromosomes to the cell equator during mitosis. This "tubulin code" explains how kinetochore motors differentiate and move chromosomes along specific spindle microtubules.

Keywords:

CENP-E Dynein detyrosination motors post-translational modifications tubulin code

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Published on: September 20, 2019

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Chromosome congression aligns chromosomes at the cell equator during mitosis.
Kinetochore motors move chromosomes along spindle microtubules.
The mechanism guiding motors to specific microtubules remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of tubulin post-translational modifications (PTMs) in chromosome congression.
To propose the "tubulin code" as a navigation system for kinetochore motors.

Main Methods:

Discussion of existing literature on chromosome motility and microtubule dynamics.
Analysis of tubulin post-translational modifications (PTMs) in the context of mitosis.

Main Results:

Tubulin PTMs may provide spatial cues on spindle microtubules.
These cues are interpreted by kinetochore motors for directed chromosome movement.
The "tubulin code" offers a framework for understanding chromosome guidance.

Conclusions:

Tubulin PTMs function as a crucial navigation system for chromosome motility.
This mechanism ensures accurate chromosome alignment during early mitosis.