Chemical Biology of Mitotic Spindle Assembly Motors

Mitotic kinesins play essential roles during mitotic spindle assembly and in ensuring proper chromosome segregation. Chemical inhibitors of mitotic kinesins are therefore valuable tools to study kinesin function in vitro and in cells. Because cancer is a disease of unregulated cell division, inhibitors also represent potential chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we present assays that can be used to evaluate the potency and specificity of mitotic kinesin inhibitors identified from high-throughput screening. By evaluating their effects in a variety of in vitro, fixed-cell, and live cell assays, screening hits can be prioritized and optimized to produce effective, on-target inhibitors.