Establishment of the vertebrate kinetochores.
The centromere is essential for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis to achieve transmission of genetic information to daughter cells. To facilitate accurate chromosome segregation, the centromere serves several specific functions, including microtubule binding, spindle-checkpoint control, and sister chromatid cohesion. The kinetochore is formed on the centromere to achieve these functions. To understand kinetochore structure and function, it is critical to identify the protein components of the kinetochore and characterize the functional properties of each component. Here, we review recent progress with regard to the molecular architecture of the kinetochore and discuss the future directions for centromere biology.
Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Genetics and Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan. thori@lab.nig.ac.jp
Tetsuya
T
Hori
Tatsuo
T
Fukagawa
D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015202:Protein Engineering; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000378:metabolism*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; C060905:centromere protein C