Mechanistic Studies of Mitosis

Dear Colleagues,

During mitotic cell division, replicated chromosomes are segregated faithfully into two daughter cells. There are monitoring mechanisms called checkpoints which act during mitosis to ensure proper chromosome attachment and correct chromosome segregation. One checkpoint that functions during early mitosis is called the spindle checkpoint and delays anaphase onset until all chromosomes are properly attached to spindle microtubules emanating from opposite spindle poles. The recruitment of spindle checkpoint proteins to unattached kinetochores is very important for the activation of the spindle checkpoint. Malfunction of the spindle checkpoint can lead to aneuploidy and cancer.

After chromosomes are segregated normally during anaphase, cytokinesis follows. The final step of cytokinesis, in which the narrow cytoplasmic canal that connects the daughter cells is cut, is called abscission. The abscission checkpoint monitors the faithful segregation of DNA and makes sure that there is no trapped chromatin inside the cytoplasmic canal. The abscission checkpoint delays abscission in the presence of chromatin bridges to prevent chromatin breakage or furrow regression and tetraploidization. In mammalian cells, the abscission checkpoint is dependent on the Aurora B kinase and is a matter of active investigation.

In this Special Issue called “Mechanistic Studies of Mitosis”, we focus on the latest research developments in mitosis and mitotic checkpoints.

Dr. Eleni Petsalaki
Guest Editor

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• mitosis
• cancer
• cell biology
• spindle checkpoint
• abscission
• abscission checkpoint
• cytokinesis