Cinetócoros humanos são "juntas articuladas" que medeiam anexos de microtúbulos: mero acaso, fortuita necessidade ou design inteligente?

segunda-feira, setembro 12, 2016

Human kinetochores are swivel joints that mediate microtubule attachments

Chris A Smith Andrew D McAinsh Nigel J Burroughs 

University of Warwick, United Kingdom


Published September 3, 2016

Cite as eLife 2016;10.7554/eLife.16159




Abstract

Chromosome segregation is a mechanical process that requires assembly of the mitotic spindle - a dynamic microtubule-based force-generating machine. Connections to this spindle are mediated by sister kinetochore pairs, that form dynamic end-on attachments to microtubules emanating from opposite spindle poles. This bi-orientation generates forces that have been reported to stretch the kinetochore itself, which has been suggested to silence the spindle checkpoint and allow anaphase onset. We reveal using three dimensional tracking that the outer kinetochore domain can swivel around the inner kinetochore/centromere, which results in large reductions in intra-kinetochore distance (delta) when viewed in lower dimensions. We show that swivel provides a mechanical flexibility that enables kinetochores at the periphery of the spindle to engage microtubules. Swivel rather than delta reduces as cells approach anaphase, suggesting an organisational change linked to checkpoint satisfaction and/or obligatory changes in kinetochore mechanochemistry may occur before dissolution of sister chromatid cohesion.

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