Probing The Mechanisms Underlying Kinetochore Behavior In Vertebate Cells Using Combinations of Advanced Light and 3-D Electron Microscopy

Abstract

For daughter cells to receive equal copies of the genome during mitosis, the replicated chromosomes must attach to and move bi-directionally on the mitotic spindle. A chromosome becomes attached to the spindle via a pair specialized structures, known as kinetochores, that are positioned on opposite sides of its primary constriction (one on each of the two chromatids). In addition to being the spindle attachment site, kinetochores are also involved in producing and/or transmitting the forces for chromosome motion. In vertebrates the kinetochore closest to a spindle pole at the time of nuclear envelope breakdown usually is the first to attach to the spindle. As a result of this attachment the now “monooriented” chromosome moves toward the closest pole where its only attached kinetochore initiates oscillatory motions toward and away from that pole until the unattached sister kinetochore acquires microtubules (Mts) from the opposite spindle pole.