Cell：揭示细胞分裂的分子机制

　　

生物通报道，华盛顿大学生理与生物物理学系，生物化学系以及哈佛大学医学院生物化学与分子制药学系的研究者在最新一期的《Cell》杂志上发表文章，剖析细胞分裂的分子机制，文章标题为：The Ndc80 Kinetochore Complex Forms Load-Bearing Attachments to Dynamic Microtubule Tips via Biased Diffusion。

 

研究者从纳米级水平研究细胞分裂过程中遗传物质等分进入两个新细胞的机制。研究者以着丝粒为研究对象，通过观察着丝粒的伸缩促进遗传物质等分的过程解析细胞分裂的机制。

 

先前的研究发现Ndc80，一种多大型的蛋白复合体在着丝粒点和微管的间其直接接触作用以促进遗传物质分布。但是，先前的研究都是以静态的模式研究的，得出的结论不足以揭示整个过程。研究小组以特殊的技术实时观察追踪Ncd80的工作过程。

 

研究小组发现，Ncd80复合蛋白在着丝粒的可塑性和长度的维持上起关键的作用，这些过程影响遗传物质的组装和分布。

 

（生物通 小茜）

生物通推荐原文摘要：The Ndc80 Kinetochore Complex Forms Load-Bearing Attachments to Dynamic Microtubule Tips via Biased Diffusion

【Summary】

Kinetochores couple chromosomes to the assembling and disassembling tips of microtubules, a dynamic behavior that is fundamental to mitosis in all eukaryotes but poorly understood. Genetic, biochemical, and structural studies implicate the Ndc80 complex as a direct point of contact between kinetochores and microtubules, but these approaches provide only a static view. Here, using techniques formanipulating and tracking individual molecules invitro, we demonstrate that the Ndc80 complex iscapable of forming the dynamic, load-bearing attachments to assembling and disassembling tips required for coupling invivo. We also establish that Ndc80-based coupling likely occurs through a biased diffusion mechanism and that this activity isconserved from yeast to humans. Our findings demonstrate how an ensemble of Ndc80 complexes may provide the combination of plasticity and strength that allows kinetochores to maintain load-bearing tip attachments during both microtubule assembly and disassembly.