Tanaka Tomoyuki U, Clayton Lesley, Natsume Toyoaki
Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
EMBO Rep. 2013 Dec;14(12):1073-83. doi: 10.1038/embor.2013.181. Epub 2013 Nov 15.
The main function of the centromere is to promote kinetochore assembly for spindle microtubule attachment. Two additional functions of the centromere, however, are becoming increasingly clear: facilitation of robust sister-chromatid cohesion at pericentromeres and advancement of replication of centromeric regions. The combination of these three centromere functions ensures correct chromosome segregation during mitosis. Here, we review the mechanisms of the kinetochore-microtubule interaction, focusing on sister-kinetochore bi-orientation (or chromosome bi-orientation). We also discuss the biological importance of robust pericentromeric cohesion and early centromere replication, as well as the mechanisms orchestrating these two functions at the microtubule attachment site.
着丝粒的主要功能是促进动粒组装以便纺锤体微管附着。然而，着丝粒的另外两个功能正变得越来越清晰：促进着丝粒周围区域姐妹染色单体的牢固黏连以及推进着丝粒区域的复制。这三种着丝粒功能的结合确保了有丝分裂过程中染色体的正确分离。在此，我们综述动粒与微管相互作用的机制，重点关注姐妹动粒双定向（或染色体双定向）。我们还讨论了着丝粒周围区域牢固黏连和着丝粒早期复制的生物学重要性，以及在微管附着位点协调这两种功能的机制。
