Kinetochore Proteins Have a Post-Mitotic Function in Neurodevelopment

The kinetochore is a complex of proteins, broadly conserved from yeast to man, that resides at the centromere and is essential for chromosome segregation in dividing cells. There are no known functions of the core complex outside of the centromere. We now show that the proteins of the kinetochore have an essential post-mitotic function in neurodevelopment. At the embryonic neuromuscular junction of Drosophila melanogaster, mutation or knockdown of many kinetochore components cause neurites to overgrow and prevent formation of normal synaptic boutons. Kinetochore proteins were detected in synapses and axons in Drosophila. In post-mitotic cultured hippocampal neurons, knockdown of mis12 increased the filopodia-like protrusions in this region. We conclude that the proteins of the kinetochore are repurposed to sculpt developing synapses and dendrites and thereby contribute to the correct development of neuronal circuits in both invertebrates and mammals.