Abstract
ABSTRACTPolo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays a fundamental role in the spatiotemporal control of mitosis. Cells lacking PLK1 activity exhibit characteristic chromosome misalignment due to defects in microtubule-kinetochore organization and attachment. In our recently published paper, we uncover a new role for PLK1 in the preservation and maintenance of centromere integrity.
Highlights
It is evident that preservation of centromeres is required to ensure faithful chromosome segregation and the maintenance of their integrity is of paramount importance to our cells
PLKs are evolutionarily conserved among different species; budding yeast and fission yeast have cell division cycle 5 (Cdc5) and Plo[1] respectively, Drosophila has Polo and Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4), whilst five PLKs have been discovered in humans
We demonstrated that in the absence of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), and under bipolar spindle pulling, the DNA translocase Plk1-interacting checkpoint helicase (PICH) and Bloom’s syndrome helicase (BLM), aberrantly target and unwind centromeric chromatin into a thread-like DNA structure reminiscent of anaphase ultra-fine DNA bridges (UFBs)
Summary
It is evident that preservation of centromeres is required to ensure faithful chromosome segregation and the maintenance of their integrity is of paramount importance to our cells. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays a fundamental role in the spatiotemporal control of mitosis. Cells lacking PLK1 activity exhibit characteristic chromosome misalignment due to defects in microtubulekinetochore organization and attachment.
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