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Related Concept Videos

Forces Acting on Chromosomes02:11

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

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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. 
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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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Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated...
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Anaphase A and B01:39

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Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
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Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
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At the transition from prophase to metaphase, there is a reduction in cohesion along the chromosomal arms, resulting in the resolution of sister chromatids. However, residual cohesin connections remain to hold the sister chromatids together until the transition from metaphase to anaphase. The residual connection prevents any premature separation of sister chromatids, blocking the risks of aneuploidy within the daughter cells.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis
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Chromosome Segregation: Evolving a Plastic Chromosome-Microtubule Interface.

Alexandra P Navarro1, Iain M Cheeseman1

  • 1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|February 26, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Kinetochores, crucial for chromosome segregation, show surprising adaptability. Studies in insects reveal how losing key parts rewires kinetochore structure and centromere organization.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Kinetochores are essential protein structures responsible for chromosome segregation during cell division.
  • Kinetochores exhibit significant structural and compositional plasticity despite their conserved function.
  • Understanding kinetochore adaptability is key to comprehending cell division fidelity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying kinetochore plasticity.
  • To explore how changes in centromere structure impact kinetochore composition.
  • To analyze kinetochore rewiring in holocentric insect species.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis.
  • Proteomic profiling of kinetochore components.
  • Advanced microscopy techniques to visualize centromere and kinetochore structure.
  • Functional assays for chromosome segregation.

Main Results:

  • Identified key structural components whose loss triggers significant molecular rewiring.
  • Demonstrated a direct correlation between altered centromere structure and changes in kinetochore composition.
  • Characterized novel protein interactions and organizational changes within the kinetochore.

Conclusions:

  • Kinetochore structure is highly adaptable, allowing for functional conservation despite compositional changes.
  • Holocentric insect systems provide a valuable model for studying kinetochore evolution and plasticity.
  • Loss of specific structural elements can lead to compensatory molecular adaptations in kinetochore assembly.