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Related Concept Videos

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint02:19

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

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The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...
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Separation of Sister Chromatids02:17

Separation of Sister Chromatids

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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.
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...
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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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Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle Assembly

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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.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a...
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Attachment of Sister Chromatids02:57

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 Mitotic Spindle02:27

The Mitotic Spindle

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The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 15, 2025

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
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Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

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Spindle checkpoint can secure additional cheating time for selfish expanded centromeres.

R Zaak Walton1, Sebastian J Khan1, Warif El Yakoubi1

  • 1Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|July 15, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Selfish centromeres exploit female meiosis by activating the spindle checkpoint, causing anaphase delays. This ensures their preferential segregation to the egg, violating Mendel

Keywords:
centromerecentromere drivechromosome segregationfemale meiosiskinetochoremeiotic drivemouse oocytespindle checkpoint

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Expanded centromeric satellite repeats can lead to non-Mendelian segregation during meiosis.
  • Selfish centromeres in mice enrich microtubule destabilizers, detaching from the spindle and flipping toward the egg.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the missing component in selfish centromere segregation.
  • To determine the role of spindle checkpoint activation in preferential segregation.

Main Methods:

  • Experimentally manipulating kinetochore size in a species-specific manner.
  • Comparing multiple hybrid mouse models to analyze centromeric satellite and kinetochore asymmetry.

Main Results:

  • Assembling larger kinetochores triggers spindle checkpoint activation, causing anaphase delay and preferential retention of expanded centromeres.
  • Centromeric satellite asymmetry does not consistently lead to kinetochore asymmetry and anaphase delay.

Conclusions:

  • Prolonged spindle checkpoint activation is crucial for selfish centromeres to achieve preferential segregation.
  • Checkpoint activation exploits female meiosis asymmetry, with distinct protein responses to centromere expansion.