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Related Concept Videos

Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

Centrioles and Centrosomes

2.7K
Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or...
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Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

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Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3...
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Centrosome Duplication02:25

Centrosome Duplication

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The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
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Cohesins02:20

Cohesins

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Cohesin protein complexes are a molecular glue that holds two sister chromatids together. They play an important role both in mitosis and meiosis. In mitosis, all cohesin complexes present on the chromosomes are removed before the start of the anaphase stage.
Cohesin complexes in Meiotic Division
Meiosis involves two distinct rounds of chromosomal segregation and cell divisions— Meiosis I followed by Meiosis II – producing four daughter cells. Meiosis I includes the separation of...
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Separation of Sister Chromatids02:17

Separation of Sister Chromatids

3.6K
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.
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...
3.6K
Anaphase A and B01:39

Anaphase A and B

4.0K
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.
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...
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Coordinated chromosome motion emerges from mechanical coupling mediated by the physical spindle environment.

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The Role of Transient Crosslinks in the Chromatin Search Response to DNA Damage.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
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Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

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Chromosome segregation: Brushing up on centromeres.

Kerry Bloom1

  • 1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|June 18, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Centromere DNA acts as a mechanical spring, ensuring accurate chromosome segregation. DNA loops and specific proteins transform centromeres into unique bipartite structures, crucial for cell division fidelity.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Accurate chromosome segregation is vital for cell division fidelity.
  • Centromeres, the constricted regions of chromosomes, play a critical role in this process.
  • The mechanical properties of centromere DNA are increasingly recognized as important for segregation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how centromere DNA functions as a mechanical spring.
  • To elucidate the structural mechanisms by which centromeres achieve faithful chromosome segregation.
  • To understand the role of DNA looping and specific proteins in centromere mechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced biophysical techniques to analyze DNA mechanics.
  • Investigated the structural organization of centromeres and pericentromeres.

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Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis
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Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis

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A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
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A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
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Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

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Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis
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Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis

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A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
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  • Examined the function of cohesin and condensin in centromere structure and dynamics.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated that centromere DNA can be converted into a functional mechanical spring.
    • Showed that centromere DNA looping, along with partitioning cohesin and condensin, creates bipartite bottlebrush structures.
    • These structures are key to the mechanical regulation of chromosome segregation.

    Conclusions:

    • Centromere DNA's mechanical spring-like properties are essential for accurate chromosome segregation.
    • The formation of bipartite bottlebrushes by DNA loops and proteins provides a novel mechanism for centromere function.
    • This study offers new insights into the physical basis of genome stability.