What is a kinetochore microtubule?

The kinetochore is a large proteinaceous structure that mediates interactions between chromosomal DNA and spindle-microtubule polymers. More than 80 kinetochore proteins have been identified using various genetic, functional, cell biology and proteomics approaches.

What is the function of kinetochore microtubules?

Kinetochores mediate spindle–microtubule attachment and control the movement of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. To conduct faithful chromosome segregation, kinetochore assembly and microtubule attachment are elaborately regulated.

Which structure is a kinetochore microtubule?

Kinetochore microtubules attach the chromosomes to the spindle pole; interpolar microtubules extend from the spindle pole across the equator, almost to the opposite spindle pole; and astral microtubules extend from the spindle pole to the cell membrane.

Do kinetochore microtubules Depolymerize?

Kinetochores are end-coupled and pulled poleward as the microtubules depolymerize [12,13].

What does kinetochore mean?

Definition. The kinetochore is a protein complex assembled on the centromeric region of DNA. It provides the major attachement point for the spindle microtubules during mitotic or meiotic division to pull the chromosomes apart.

What is the main function of the kinetochore?

In eukaryotes, the kinetochore is a proteinaceous multi-subunit assembly whose main function is to generate load-bearing attachments of sister chromatids (the replicated chromosomes held together by the protein complex cohesin) to spindle microtubules during cell division (mitosis or meiosis) (Figure 1A).

What is the function of kinetochores?

Why do kinetochore microtubules shorten?

Kinetochore microtubules shorten by loss of subunits at the kinetochores of prometaphase chromosomes.

What is kinetochore short answer?

A kinetochore (/kɪˈnɛtəkɔːr/, /-ˈniːtəkɔːr/) is a disc-shaped protein structure associated with duplicated chromatids in eukaryotic cells where the spindle fibers attach during cell division to pull sister chromatids apart.