The spindle assembly checkpoint: clock or domino?

摘要: In each cell division, the newly duplicated chromosomes must be evenly distributed between sister cells. Errors in this process during meiosis or mitosis are equally fatal: improper segregation of chromosome 21 human leads to Down syndrome (Conley, Aneuploidy: etiology and mechanisms, pp 35-89, 1985), whereas somatic cells, aneuploidy has been linked carcinogenesis, by unbalancing ratio oncogenes tumor suppressors (Holland Cleveland, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 10(7):478-487, 2009; Yuen et al., Curr Opin 17(6):576-582, 2005). Eukaryotic cells have developed a mechanism, known as spindle assembly checkpoint, detect erroneous attachment mitotic/meiotic delay cycle give enough time resolve these defects. Research last 20 years, demonstrated that checkpoint is not only pure pathway, but plays constitutive role every cycle. Here, we review our current knowledge how integrated into machinery, discuss some questions addressed future.