The cell cycle, the biological process underlying how cells grow and multiply, is tightly regulated to ensure a faithful distribution of genetic material to ‘daughter’ cells. This tight regulation of cell division is essential to minimize erroneous partitioning of genetic material which can lead to genomic instability, a common hallmark of cancer.
As such, the mechanisms that guide faithful segregation of chromosomes are orchestrated by hundreds of proteins. This protein network is comprised of large dynamic polymers known as microtubules, which bind the kinetochore complex at the center of the chromosome to separate chromosomes, physically pulling them into daughter cells. As the dynamic movement of microtubules creates tension at the kinetochore attachment sites, the process requires selective stabilization of kinetochore-microtubule attachments.
