Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

Microtubules are dynamic protein filaments that assemble into a precise spindle apparatus during cell division, physically segregating duplicated chromosomes so that each daughter cell receives the correct genetic complement. When this process goes wrong — through failures in the mitotic checkpoint, misfiring of molecular motors like kinesin proteins, or dysregulation of kinases such as Aurora A and B — cells can end up with abnormal chromosome numbers, a condition called aneuploidy that is a hallmark of most solid tumors. Researchers are working to understand exactly how the spindle assembly checkpoint senses and corrects attachment errors in real time, and how chromosomal instability, once established, shapes tumor evolution and drug resistance. Because many cancer cells depend on altered spindle dynamics for their proliferation, the proteins that govern microtubule behavior have become important targets for therapeutic intervention.

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Keywords

MicrotubulesCell DivisionMitotic CheckpointMolecular MotorsAneuploidyKinesin Proteins