Chromosomes must be accurately partitioned to daughter cells to prevent aneuploidy, a hallmark of many tumors and birth defects. Kinetochores are the macromolecular machines that segregate chromosomes by maintaining load-bearing attachments to the dynamic tips of microtubules. Here, we present the structure of isolated budding-yeast kinetochore particles, as visualized by EM and electron tomography of negatively stained preparations. The kinetochore appears as an ~126-nm particle containing a large central hub surrounded by multiple outer globular domains. In the presence of microtubules, some particles also have a ring that encircles the microtubule. Our data, showing that kinetochores bind to microtubules via multivalent attachments, lay the foundation to uncover the key mechanical and regulatory mechanisms by which kinetochores control chromosome segregation and cell division.
Pubmed ID: 22885327 RIS Download
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Non profit, private research and education institution that performs molecular and genetic research used to generate methods for better diagnostics and treatments for cancer and neurological diseases. Research of cancer causing genes and their respective signaling pathways, mutations and structural variations of the human genome that could cause neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative illnesses such as autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and also research in plant genetics and quantitative biology.
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