The Molecular Biology of Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Signaling Dynamics.
The spindle assembly checkpoint is a safeguard mechanism that coordinates cell-cycle progression during mitosis with the state of chromosome attachment to the mitotic spindle. The checkpoint prevents mitotic cells from exiting mitosis in the presence of unattached or improperly attached chromosomes, thus avoiding whole-chromosome gains or losses and their detrimental effects on cell physiology. Here, I review a considerable body of recent progress in the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying checkpoint signaling, and identify a number of unresolved questions.
Department of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany; Centre for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. Electronic address: andrea.musacchio@mpi-dortmund.mpg.de.
Andrea
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Musacchio
D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D059566:M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D015398:Signal Transduction; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000502:physiology*