Chromosome congression during cell division

During cell division, sister chromatids congress to the spindle equator and are subsequently segregated via attachment to dynamic kinetochore microtubule (kMT) plus ends. A major question is how kMT plus-end assembly is spatially regulated. Kinesins attach to kMTs and move toward their plus ends. Upon arrival at plus ends, motors promote kMT shrinking. Longer kMTs have more motor binding sites than short kMTs, and so they accumulate more motors at their plus ends than short kMTs and grow poorly relative to short kMTs. Over time, kinetochores naturally sort into two groups, ready for anaphase. Gardner et al., Cell 135(5), 894-906.

http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674%2808%2901239-7

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Cell
• Press
• kinetochores
• cell
• division
• microtubules