21.05.2024 - 10:54:08

Microtubule end-on attachment maturation regulates Mps1 association with its kinetochore receptor

In the latest volume of Current Biology, a paper from Stefan Westermann (A1) and his group in collaboration with Andrea Musacchio (A2), Markus Kaiser (B1), and Farnusch Kaschani (Z3) was released. During cell division the genetic blueprint of an organism is distributed equally between two daughter cells. Eukaryotic cells have evolved a powerful control mechanism which ensures that cell division only proceeds when chromosomes have achieved error-free attachments to the mitotic spindle. The study sheds light on the long lasting question how cells coordinate the metaphase-anaphase transition with correct spindle attachments. Pleuger et al. define a binding interface of the regulatory kinase Mps1 at the kinetochore, anchor for spindle attachments at the chromosomes as well as signaling hub for mitotic progression. They proceed by showing that the maturation of correct end-on attachments results in the displacement of Mps1 from kinetochores and identify the molecular features of the outer kinetochore leading to the regulation.