title: The Ndc80 complex: hub of kinetochore activity.
abstract: Kinetochores are protein scaffolds coordinating the process of chromosome segregation in mitosis. Kinetochore components are organized in functionally and topologically distinct domains that are designed to connect the sister chromatids to the mitotic spindle. The inner kinetochore proteins are in direct contact with the centromeric DNA, whilst the outer kinetochore proteins are responsible for binding to spindle microtubules. The conserved Ndc80 complex is implicated in several essential outer kinetochore functions, including microtubule binding and control of a safety device known as the spindle assembly checkpoint. Here, we describe how current work is contributing to unravel the complex endeavors of this essential kinetochore complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, I-20131 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciferri
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musacchio
authors.forename: Arsen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrovic
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; C112472:NDC80 protein, S cerevisiae; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins