title: Using default constraints of the spindle assembly checkpoint to estimate the associated chemical rates.
abstract: :
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Default activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint provides severe constraints on the underlying biochemical activation rates: on one hand, the cell cannot divide before all chromosomes are aligned, but on the other hand, when they are ready, the separation is quite fast, lasting a few minutes. Our purpose is to use these opposed constraints to estimate the associated chemical rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To analyze the above constraints, we develop a markovian model to describe the dynamics of Cdc20 molecules. We compute the probability for no APC/C activation before time t, the distribution of Cdc20 at equilibrium and the mean time to complete APC/C activation after all chromosomes are attached.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By studying Cdc20 inhibition and the activation time, we obtain a range for the main chemical reaction rates regulating the spindle assembly checkpoint and transition to anaphase.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biology (IBENS), Group of Computational Biology and Applied Mathematics, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 46 rue d'Ulm 75005 Paris, France. holcman@ens.fr.
authors.forename: Khanh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dao Duc
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holcman