Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
05:35

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Published on: March 3, 2016

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Kinetochore clustering is mediated by Mps1 phosphorylation of conserved MELT motifs in Stu1

Darren R Mallett1,2, Mengqiu Jiang2, Gianna M Minnuto2

  • 1Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, 1705 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|February 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Mps1 kinase orchestrates kinetochore clustering in budding yeast by phosphorylating Stu1 to recruit Slk19. This mechanism promotes microtubule capture, essential for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Unattached kinetochores must capture microtubules to ensure proper chromosome segregation during mitosis.
  • In budding yeast, Stu1 and Slk19 proteins cluster kinetochores for microtubule capture, but the mechanism is unknown.
  • Mps1 kinase is known to regulate kinetochore function and the spindle checkpoint in various eukaryotes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which Mps1 kinase regulates kinetochore clustering in budding yeast.
  • To identify the key proteins and interactions involved in Mps1-mediated kinetochore clustering.
  • To understand how kinetochore clustering contributes to microtubule capture.

Main Methods:

  • Biochemical assays to identify Mps1 phosphorylation sites on Stu1.
  • Yeast genetics to analyze the function of Stu1 and Slk19.
  • Structural biology (crystallography) to determine the complex structure of Stu1 and Slk19.

Main Results:

  • Mps1 kinase directly phosphorylates two conserved MELT motifs in Stu1.
  • Phosphorylated Stu1 recruits Slk19, leading to kinetochore clustering.
  • Structural analysis revealed Stu1:Slk19 forms long, string-like filaments, providing insight into clustering mechanics.

Conclusions:

  • Mps1 kinase controls budding yeast kinetochore clustering via Stu1 phosphorylation and Slk19 recruitment.
  • The Mps1-Stu1-Slk19 pathway is functionally analogous to the fibrous corona in animal cells.
  • Kinetochore-microtubule capture regulation by Mps1 is a conserved eukaryotic mechanism.
Keywords:
MELT motifMps1 kinaseSlk19Stu1kinetochorekinetochore clusteringspindle assembly checkpoint

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