A structural basis for kinetochore recruitment of the Ndc80 complex via two distinct centromere receptors

Structure of the human outer kinetochore KMN network complex

Faithful chromosome segregation requires robust, load-bearing attachments of chromosomes to the mitotic spindle, a function accomplished by large macromolecular complexes termed kinetochores. In most eukaryotes, the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN) complex of the inner kinetochore recruits to centromeres the ten-subunit outer kinetochore KMN network that comprises the KNL1C, MIS12C and NDC80C complexes. The KMN network directly attaches CCAN to microtubules through MIS12C and NDC80C. Here, we determined a high-resolution cryo-EM structure of the human KMN network. This showed an intricate and extensive assembly of KMN subunits, with the central MIS12C forming rigid interfaces with NDC80C and KNL1C, augmented by multiple peptidic inter-subunit connections. We also observed that unphosphorylated MIS12C exists in an auto-inhibited state that suppresses its capacity to interact with CCAN. Ser100 and Ser109 of the N-terminal segment of the MIS12C subunit Dsn1, two key targets of Aurora B kinase, directly stabilize this auto-inhibition. Our study indicates how selectively relieving this auto-inhibition through Ser100 and Ser109 phosphorylation might restrict outer kinetochore assembly to functional centromeres during cell division.

Structure of the human KMN complex and implications for regulation of its assembly

Biorientation of chromosomes during cell division is necessary for precise dispatching of a mother cell's chromosomes into its two daughters. Kinetochores, large layered structures built on specialized chromosome loci named centromeres, promote biorientation by binding and sensing spindle microtubules. One of the outer layer main components is a ten-subunit assembly comprising Knl1C, Mis12C and Ndc80C (KMN) subcomplexes. The KMN is highly elongated and docks on kinetochores and microtubules through interfaces at its opposite extremes. Here, we combine cryogenic electron microscopy reconstructions and AlphaFold2 predictions to generate a model of the human KMN that reveals all intra-KMN interfaces. We identify and functionally validate two interaction interfaces that link Mis12C to Ndc80C and Knl1C. Through targeted interference experiments, we demonstrate that this mutual organization strongly stabilizes the KMN assembly. Our work thus reports a comprehensive structural and functional analysis of this part of the kinetochore microtubule-binding machinery and elucidates the path of connections from the chromatin-bound components to the force-generating components.

Coregulation of NDC80 Complex Subunits Determines the Fidelity of the Spindle-Assembly Checkpoint and Mitosis

NDC80 complex (NDC80C) is composed of four subunits (SPC24, SPC25, NDC80, and NUF2) and is vital for kinetochore-microtubule (KT-MT) attachment during mitosis. Paradoxically, NDC80C also functions in the activation of the spindle-assembly checkpoint (SAC). This raises an interesting question regarding how mitosis is regulated when NDC80C levels are compromised. Using a degron-mediated depletion system, we found that acute silencing of SPC24 triggered a transient mitotic arrest followed by mitotic slippage. SPC24-deficient cells were unable to sustain SAC activation despite the loss of KT-MT interaction. Intriguingly, our results revealed that other subunits of the NDC80C were co-downregulated with SPC24 at a posttranslational level. Silencing any individual subunit of NDC80C likewise reduced the expression of the entire complex. We found that the SPC24-SPC25 and NDC80-NUF2 subcomplexes could be individually stabilized using ectopically expressed subunits. The synergism of SPC24 downregulation with drugs that promote either mitotic arrest or mitotic slippage further underscored the dual roles of NDC80C in KT-MT interaction and SAC maintenance. The tight coordinated regulation of NDC80C subunits suggests that targeting individual subunits could disrupt mitotic progression and provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

IMPLICATIONS

These results highlight the tight coordinated regulation of NDC80C subunits and their potential as targets for antimitotic therapies.

Centromeric chromatin clearings demarcate the site of kinetochore formation

The centromere is the chromosomal locus that recruits the kinetochore, directing faithful propagation of the genome during cell division. The kinetochore has been interrogated by electron microscopy since the middle of the last century, but with methodologies that compromised fine structure. Using cryo-ET on human mitotic chromosomes, we reveal a distinctive architecture at the centromere: clustered 20-25 nm nucleosome-associated complexes within chromatin clearings that delineate them from surrounding chromatin. Centromere components CENP-C and CENP-N are each required for the integrity of the complexes, while CENP-C is also required to maintain the chromatin clearing. We further visualize the scaffold of the fibrous corona, a structure amplified at unattached kinetochores, revealing crescent-shaped parallel arrays of fibrils that extend >1 μm. Thus, we reveal how the organization of centromeric chromatin creates a clearing at the site of kinetochore formation as well as the nature of kinetochore amplification mediated by corona fibrils.

Architecture and flexibility of native kinetochores revealed by structural studies utilizing a thermophilic yeast

Eukaryotic chromosome segregation requires kinetochores, multi-megadalton protein machines that assemble on the centromeres of chromosomes and mediate attachments to dynamic spindle microtubules. Kinetochores are built from numerous complexes, and understanding how they are arranged is key to understanding how kinetochores perform their multiple functions. However, an integrated understanding of kinetochore architecture has not yet been established. To address this, we purified functional, native kinetochores from Kluyveromyces marxianus and examined them by electron microscopy, cryo-electron tomography and atomic force microscopy. The kinetochores are extremely large, flexible assemblies that exhibit features consistent with prior models. We assigned kinetochore polarity by visualizing their interactions with microtubules and locating the microtubule binder Ndc80c. This work shows that isolated kinetochores are more dynamic and complex than what might be anticipated based on the known structures of recombinant subassemblies, and provides the foundation to study the global architecture and functions of kinetochores at a structural level.

Functional plasticity in chromosome-microtubule coupling on the evolutionary time scale

The Dam1 complex is essential for mitotic progression across evolutionarily divergent fungi. Upon analyzing amino acid (aa) sequences of Dad2, a Dam1 complex subunit, we identified a conserved 10-aa-long Dad2 signature sequence (DSS). An arginine residue (R126) in the DSS is essential for viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that possesses point centromeres. The corresponding arginine residues are functionally important but not essential for viability in Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans; both carry several kilobases long regional centromeres. The purified recombinant Dam1 complex containing either Dad2ΔDSS or Dad2R126A failed to bind microtubules (MTs) or form any visible rings like the WT complex. Intriguingly, functional analysis revealed that the requirement of the conserved arginine residue for chromosome biorientation and mitotic progression reduced with increasing centromere length. We propose that plasticity of the invariant arginine of Dad2 in organisms with regional centromeres is achieved by conditional elevation of the kinetochore protein(s) to enable multiple kinetochore MTs to bind to each chromosome. The capacity of a chromosome to bind multiple kinetochore MTs may mask the deleterious effects of such lethal mutations.

Structure of the Ndc80 complex and its interactions at the yeast kinetochore-microtubule interface

The conserved Ndc80 kinetochore complex, Ndc80c, is the principal link between mitotic spindle microtubules and centromere-associated proteins. We used AlphaFold 2 (AF2) to obtain predictions of the Ndc80 'loop' structure and of the Ndc80 : Nuf2 globular head domains that interact with the Dam1 subunit of the heterodecameric DASH/Dam1 complex (Dam1c). The predictions guided design of crystallizable constructs, with structures close to the predicted ones. The Ndc80 'loop' is a stiff, α-helical 'switchback' structure; AF2 predictions and positions of preferential cleavage sites indicate that flexibility within the long Ndc80c rod occurs instead at a hinge closer to the globular head. Conserved stretches of the Dam1 C terminus bind Ndc80c such that phosphorylation of Dam1 serine residues 257, 265 and 292 by the mitotic kinase Ipl1/Aurora B can release this contact during error correction of mis-attached kinetochores. We integrate the structural results presented here into our current molecular model of the kinetochore-microtubule interface. The model illustrates how multiple interactions between Ndc80c, DASH/Dam1c and the microtubule lattice stabilize kinetochore attachments.

Nanoscale structural organization and stoichiometry of the budding yeast kinetochore

Proper chromosome segregation is crucial for cell division. In eukaryotes, this is achieved by the kinetochore, an evolutionarily conserved multiprotein complex that physically links the DNA to spindle microtubules and takes an active role in monitoring and correcting erroneous spindle-chromosome attachments. Our mechanistic understanding of these functions and how they ensure an error-free outcome of mitosis is still limited, partly because we lack a complete understanding of the kinetochore structure in the cell. In this study, we use single-molecule localization microscopy to visualize individual kinetochore complexes in situ in budding yeast. For major kinetochore proteins, we measured their abundance and position within the metaphase kinetochore. Based on this comprehensive dataset, we propose a quantitative model of the budding yeast kinetochore. While confirming many aspects of previous reports based on bulk imaging, our results present a unifying nanoscale model of the kinetochore in budding yeast.

Cell cycle control of kinetochore assembly

The kinetochore is a large proteinaceous structure assembled on the centromeres of chromosomes. The complex machinery links chromosomes to the mitotic spindle and is essential for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division. The kinetochore is composed of two submodules: the inner and outer kinetochore. The inner kinetochore is assembled on centromeric chromatin and persists with centromeres throughout the cell cycle. The outer kinetochore attaches microtubules to the inner kinetochore, and assembles only during mitosis. The review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms governing the proper assembly of the outer kinetochore during mitosis and highlights open questions for future investigation.

Dynamic cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation modulates CENP-L-CENP-N centromere recruitment

The kinetochore is a macromolecular structure that is needed to ensure proper chromosome segregation during each cellular division. The kinetochore is assembled upon a platform of the 16-subunit constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), which is present at centromeres throughout the cell cycle. The nature and regulation of CCAN assembly, interactions, and dynamics needed to facilitate changing centromere properties and requirements remain to be fully elucidated. The CENP-LN complex is a CCAN component that displays unique cell cycle–dependent localization behavior, peaking in the S phase. Here, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of CENP-L and CENP-N controls CENP-LN complex formation and localization in a cell cycle–dependent manner. Mimicking constitutive phosphorylation of either CENP-L or CENP-N or simultaneously preventing phosphorylation of both proteins prevents CENP-LN localization and disrupts chromosome segregation. Our work suggests that cycles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are critical for CENP-LN complex recruitment and dynamics at kinetochores to enable cell cycle–dependent CCAN reorganization.

De novo centromere formation in pericentromeric region of rice chromosome 8

Neocentromeres develop when kinetochores assemble de novo at DNA loci that are not previously associated with CenH3 nucleosomes, and can rescue rearranged chromosomes that have lost a functional centromere. The molecular mechanisms associated with neocentromere formation in plants have been elusive. Here, we developed a Xian (indica) rice line with poor growth performance in the field due to approximately 272 kb deletion that spans centromeric DNA sequences, including the centromeric satellite repeat CentO, in the centromere of chromosome 8 (Cen8). The CENH3-binding domains were expanded downstream of the original CentO position in Cen8, which revealed a de novo centromere formation in rice. The neocentromere formation avoids chromosomal regions containing functional genes. Meanwhile, canonical histone H3 was replaced by CENH3 in the regions with low CENH3 levels, and the CenH3 nucleosomes in these regions became more periodic. In addition, we identified active genes in the deleted centromeric region, which are essential for chloroplast growth and development. In summary, our results provide valuable insights into neocentromere formation and show that functional genes exist in the centromeric regions of plant chromosomes.

Kinetochore Architecture Employs Diverse Linker Strategies Across Evolution

The assembly of a functional kinetochore on centromeric chromatin is necessary to connect chromosomes to the mitotic spindle, ensuring accurate chromosome segregation. This connecting function of the kinetochore presents multiple internal and external structural challenges. A microtubule interacting outer kinetochore and centromeric chromatin interacting inner kinetochore effectively confront forces from the external spindle and centromere, respectively. While internally, special inner kinetochore proteins, defined as “linkers,” simultaneously interact with centromeric chromatin and the outer kinetochore to enable association with the mitotic spindle. With the ability to simultaneously interact with outer kinetochore components and centromeric chromatin, linker proteins such as centromere protein (CENP)-C or CENP-T in vertebrates and, additionally CENP-QOkp1-UAme1 in yeasts, also perform the function of force propagation within the kinetochore. Recent efforts have revealed an array of linker pathways strategies to effectively recruit the largely conserved outer kinetochore. In this review, we examine these linkages used to propagate force and recruit the outer kinetochore across evolution. Further, we look at their known regulatory pathways and implications on kinetochore structural diversity and plasticity.

CENP-A Regulation and Cancer

In mammals, CENP-A, a histone H3 variant found in the centromeric chromatin, is critical for faithful chromosome segregation and genome integrity maintenance through cell divisions. Specifically, it has dual functions, enabling to define epigenetically the centromere position and providing the foundation for building up the kinetochore. Regulation of its dynamics of synthesis and deposition ensures to propagate proper centromeres on each chromosome across mitosis and meiosis. However, CENP-A overexpression is a feature identified in many cancers. Importantly, high levels of CENP-A lead to its mislocalization outside the centromere. Recent studies in mammals have begun to uncover how CENP-A overexpression can affect genome integrity, reprogram cell fate and impact 3D nuclear organization in cancer. Here, we summarize the mechanisms that orchestrate CENP-A regulation. Then we review how, beyond its centromeric function, CENP-A overexpression is linked to cancer state in mammalian cells, with a focus on the perturbations that ensue at the level of chromatin organization. Finally, we review the clinical interest for CENP-A in cancer treatment.

Mitotic spindle formation in the absence of Polo kinase

SignificanceMitosis is an essential process in all eukaryotes, but paradoxically, genes required for mitosis vary among species. The essentiality of many mitotic genes was bypassed by activating alternative mechanisms during evolution. However, bypass events have rarely been recapitulated experimentally. Here, using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the essentiality of a kinase (Plo1) required for bipolar spindle formation was bypassed by other mutations, many of which are associated with glucose metabolism. The Plo1 bypass by the reduction in glucose uptake was dependent on another kinase (casein kinase I), which potentiated spindle microtubule formation. This study illustrates a rare experimental bypass of essentiality for mitotic genes and provides insights into the molecular diversity of mitosis.

NDC80 Enhances Cisplatin-resistance in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

BACKGROUNDS

Chemotherapy is a standard systemic treatment option for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Cisplatin has been used to treat TNBC, but frequently leads to cisplatin resistance in patients. The aim of our study was to investigate cisplatin-resistant mechanism in TNBC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To identify the potential genes and pathways relative to cisplatin resistance, GSE103115 data were analyzed by the Limma package and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). TNBC data from TCGA, GSE76250 and GSE115275 datasets were used to calculate NDC80 expression. Immunohistochemistry detected NDC80 protein expression in TNBC tissues from patients before and after cisplatin treatment. After expose to cisplatin treatment, the viability and proliferation of TNBC cells were measured by CCK-8 and colony formation assays, respectively.

RESULTS

NDC80 was regarded as a cisplatin-resistant gene because after cisplatin treatment NDC80 was downregulated in cisplatin-sensitive cells but was upregulated in cisplatin-resistant cells. NDC80 was over-expressed in TNBC tissues compared to normal tissues. Furthermore, NDC80 expression in TNBC patients was increased after cisplatin treatment. Cisplatin-sensitive TNBC patients showed lower NDC80 expression than cisplatin-resistant patients. Additionally, NDC80 expression was correlated with clinical stages, tumor size and chemotherapy of TNBC patients. Moreover, NDC80 overexpression promoted the viability and proliferation of TNBC cells and enhanced the cells resistance to cisplatin. The potential pathways relative to cisplatin resistance were obtained, such as p53 signaling pathway and Oxidative phosphorylation.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide new insights for understanding the mechanism of cisplatin resistance in TNBC, and NDC80 may be a potential therapeutic target for TNBC treatment.

Recruitment of two Ndc80 complexes via the CENP-T pathway is sufficient for kinetochore functions

To form functional kinetochores, CENP-C and CENP-T independently recruit the KMN (Knl1C, Mis12C, and Ndc80C) network onto the kinetochores. To clarify the functions of the KMN network on CENP-T, we evaluated its roles in chicken DT40 cell lines lacking the CENP-C-KMN network interaction. By analyzing mutants lacking both CENP-T-Mis12C and CENP-C-Mis12C interactions, we demonstrated that Knl1C and Mis12C (KM) play critical roles in the cohesion of sister chromatids or the recruitment of spindle checkpoint proteins onto kinetochores. Two copies of Ndc80C (N-N) exist on CENP-T via Mis12C or direct binding. Analyses of cells specifically lacking the Mis12C-Ndc80C interaction revealed that N-N is needed for proper kinetochore-microtubule interactions. However, using artificial engineering to directly bind the two copies of Ndc80C to CENP-T, we demonstrated that N-N functions without direct Mis12C binding to Ndc80C in native kinetochores. This study demonstrated the mechanisms by which complicated networks play roles in native kinetochores.

The kinetochores contain multiple protein interaction networks. Takenoshita et al. analyzed the complicated networks using the genetic method and revealed that two copies of Ndc80 complexes on CENP-T are sufficient for kinetochore functions.

Ccp1-Ndc80 switch at the N terminus of CENP-T regulates kinetochore assembly

Precise chromosome segregation relies on kinetochores. How kinetochores are precisely assembled on centromeres through the cell cycle remains poorly understood. Centromeres in most eukaryotes are epigenetically marked by nucleosomes containing the histone H3 variant, CENP-A. Here, we demonstrated that Ccp1, an anti–CENP-A loading factor, interacts with the N terminus of CENP-T to promote the assembly of the outer kinetochore Ndc80 complex. This work further suggests that competitive exclusion between Ccp1 and Ndc80 at the N terminus of CENP-T via phosphorylation ensures precise kinetochore assembly during mitosis. In addition, CENP-T is critical for Ccp1 centromeric localization, which in turn regulates CENP-A distribution. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying kinetochore assembly through the cell cycle.

Kinetochores, a protein complex assembled on centromeres, mediate chromosome segregation. In most eukaryotes, centromeres are epigenetically specified by the histone H3 variant CENP-A. CENP-T, an inner kinetochore protein, serves as a platform for the assembly of the outer kinetochore Ndc80 complex during mitosis. How CENP-T is regulated through the cell cycle remains unclear. Ccp1 (counteracter of CENP-A loading protein 1) associates with centromeres during interphase but delocalizes from centromeres during mitosis. Here, we demonstrated that Ccp1 directly interacts with CENP-T. CENP-T is important for the association of Ccp1 with centromeres, whereas CENP-T centromeric localization depends on Mis16, a homolog of human RbAp48/46. We identified a Ccp1-interaction motif (CIM) at the N terminus of CENP-T, which is adjacent to the Ndc80 receptor motif. The CIM domain is required for Ccp1 centromeric localization, and the CIM domain–deleted mutant phenocopies ccp1Δ. The CIM domain can be phosphorylated by CDK1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1). Phosphorylation of CIM weakens its interaction with Ccp1. Consistent with this, Ccp1 dissociates from centromeres through all stages of the cell cycle in the phosphomimetic mutant of the CIM domain, whereas in the phospho-null mutant of the domain, Ccp1 associates with centromeres during mitosis. We further show that the phospho-null mutant disrupts the positioning of the Ndc80 complex during mitosis, resulting in chromosome missegregation. This work suggests that competitive exclusion between Ccp1 and Ndc80 at the N terminus of CENP-T via phosphorylation ensures precise kinetochore assembly during mitosis and uncovers a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying kinetochore assembly through the cell cycle.

Minichromosome maintenance proteins in eukaryotic chromosome segregation

Minichromosome maintenance (Mcm) proteins are well-known for their functions in DNA replication. However, their roles in chromosome segregation are yet to be reviewed in detail. Following the discovery in 1984, a group of Mcm proteins, known as the ARS-nonspecific group consisting of Mcm13, Mcm16-19, and Mcm21-22, were characterized as bonafide kinetochore proteins and were shown to play significant roles in the kinetochore assembly and high-fidelity chromosome segregation. This review focuses on the structure, function, and evolution of this group of Mcm proteins. Our in silico analysis of the physical interactors of these proteins reveals that they share non-overlapping functions despite being copurified in biochemically stable complexes. We have discussed the contrasting results reported in the literature and experimental strategies to address them. Taken together, this review focuses on the structure-function of the ARS-nonspecific Mcm proteins and their evolutionary flexibility to maintain genome stability in various organisms.

Cdc4 phospho-degrons allow differential regulation of Ame1CENP-U protein stability across the cell cycle

Kinetochores are multi-subunit protein assemblies that link chromosomes to microtubules of the mitotic and meiotic spindle. It is still poorly understood how efficient, centromere-dependent kinetochore assembly is accomplished from hundreds of individual protein building blocks in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Here, by combining comprehensive phosphorylation analysis of native Ctf19^CCAN subunits with biochemical and functional assays in the model system budding yeast, we demonstrate that Cdk1 phosphorylation activates phospho-degrons on the essential subunit Ame1^CENP-U, which are recognized by the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex SCF-Cdc4. Gradual phosphorylation of degron motifs culminates in M-phase and targets the protein for degradation. Binding of the Mtw1^Mis12 complex shields the proximal phospho-degron, protecting kinetochore-bound Ame1 from the degradation machinery. Artificially increasing degron strength partially suppresses the temperature sensitivity of a cdc4 mutant, while overexpression of Ame1-Okp1 is toxic in SCF mutants, demonstrating the physiological importance of this mechanism. We propose that phospho-regulated clearance of excess CCAN subunits facilitates efficient centromere-dependent kinetochore assembly. Our results suggest a novel strategy for how phospho-degrons can be used to regulate the assembly of multi-subunit complexes.

Prometaphase

The establishment of a metaphase plate in which all chromosomes are attached to mitotic spindle microtubules and aligned at the cell equator is required for faithful chromosome segregation in metazoans. The achievement of this configuration relies on the precise coordination between several concurrent mechanisms that start upon nuclear envelope breakdown, mediate chromosome capture at their kinetochores during mitotic spindle assembly and culminate with the congression of all chromosomes to the spindle equator. This period is called 'prometaphase'. Because the nature of chromosome capture by mitotic spindle microtubules is error prone, the cell is provided of error correction mechanisms that sense and correct most erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachments before committing to separate sister chromatids in anaphase. In this review, aimed for newcomers in the field, more than providing an exhaustive mechanistic coverage of each and every concurrent mechanism taking place during prometaphase, we provide an integrative overview of these processes that ultimately promote the subsequent faithful segregation of chromosomes during mitosis.

Assembly principles and stoichiometry of a complete human kinetochore module

Centromeres are epigenetically determined chromosomal loci that seed kinetochore assembly to promote chromosome segregation during cell division. CENP-A, a centromere-specific histone H3 variant, establishes the foundations for centromere epigenetic memory and kinetochore assembly. It recruits the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), which in turn assembles the microtubule-binding interface. How the specific organization of centromeric chromatin relates to kinetochore assembly and to centromere identity through cell division remains conjectural. Here, we break new ground by reconstituting a functional full-length version of CENP-C, the largest human CCAN subunit and a blueprint of kinetochore assembly. We show that full-length CENP-C, a dimer, binds stably to two nucleosomes and permits further assembly of all other kinetochore subunits in vitro with relative ratios closely matching those of endogenous human kinetochores. Our results imply that human kinetochores emerge from clustering multiple copies of a fundamental module and may have important implications for transgenerational inheritance of centromeric chromatin.

Kinetochore assembly throughout the cell cycle

The kinetochore plays an essential role in facilitating chromosome segregation during cell division. This massive protein complex assembles onto the centromere of chromosomes and enables their attachment to spindle microtubules during mitosis. The kinetochore also functions as a signaling hub to regulate cell cycle progression, and is crucial to ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation. Despite the fact that kinetochores are large and robust molecular assemblies, they are also highly dynamic structures that undergo structural and organizational changes throughout the cell cycle. This review will highlight our current understanding of kinetochore structure and function, focusing on the dynamic processes that underlie kinetochore assembly.

Trypanosome KKIP1 Dynamically Links the Inner Kinetochore to a Kinetoplastid Outer Kinetochore Complex

Kinetochores perform an essential role in eukaryotes, coupling chromosomes to the mitotic spindle. In model organisms they are composed of a centromere-proximal inner kinetochore and an outer kinetochore network that binds to microtubules. In spite of universal function, the composition of kinetochores in extant eukaryotes differs greatly. In trypanosomes and other Kinetoplastida, kinetochores are extremely divergent, with most components showing no detectable similarity to proteins in other systems. They may also be very different functionally, potentially binding to the spindle directly via an inner-kinetochore protein. However, we do not know the extent of the trypanosome kinetochore, and proteins interacting with a highly divergent Ndc80/Nuf2-like protein (KKIP1) suggest the existence of more centromere-distal complexes. Here we use quantitative proteomics from multiple start-points to define a stable 9-protein kinetoplastid outer kinetochore (KOK) complex. This complex incorporates proteins recruited from other nuclear processes, exemplifying the role of moonlighting proteins in kinetochore evolution. The outer kinetochore complex is physically distinct from inner-kinetochore proteins, but nanometer-scale label separation shows that KKIP1 bridges the two plates in the same orientation as Ndc80. Moreover, KKIP1 exhibits substantial elongation at metaphase, altering kinetochore structure in a manner consistent with pulling at the outer plate. Together, these data suggest that the KKIP1/KOK likely constitute the extent of the trypanosome outer kinetochore and that this assembly binds to the spindle with sufficient strength to stretch the kinetochore, showing design parallels may exist in organisms with very different kinetochore composition.

Microtubule Attachment and Centromeric Tension Shape the Protein Architecture of the Human Kinetochore

The nanoscale protein architecture of the kinetochore plays an integral role in specifying the mechanisms underlying its functions in chromosome segregation. However, defining this architecture in human cells remains challenging because of the large size and compositional complexity of the kinetochore. Here, we use Förster resonance energy transfer to reveal the architecture of individual kinetochore-microtubule attachments in human cells. We find that the microtubule-binding domains of the Ndc80 complex cluster at the microtubule plus end. This clustering occurs only after microtubule attachment, and it increases proportionally with centromeric tension. Surprisingly, Ndc80 complex clustering is independent of the organization and number of its centromeric receptors. Moreover, this clustering is similar in yeast and human kinetochores despite significant differences in their centromeric organizations. These and other data suggest that the microtubule-binding interface of the human kinetochore behaves like a flexible "lawn" despite being nucleated by repeating biochemical subunits.

C-Terminal Motifs of the MTW1 Complex Cooperatively Stabilize Outer Kinetochore Assembly in Budding Yeast

Kinetochores are macromolecular protein assemblies at centromeres that mediate accurate chromosome segregation during cell division. The outer kinetochore KNL1^SPC105, MIS12^MTW1, and NDC80^NDC80 complexes assemble the KMN network, which harbors the sites of microtubule binding and spindle assembly checkpoint signaling. The buildup of the KMN network that transmits microtubule pulling forces to budding yeast point centromeres is poorly understood. Here, we identify 225 inter-protein crosslinks by mass spectrometry on KMN complexes isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae that delineate the KMN subunit connectivity for outer kinetochore assembly. C-Terminal motifs of Nsl1 and Mtw1 recruit the SPC105 complex through Kre28, and both motifs aid tethering of the NDC80 complex by the previously reported Dsn1 C terminus. We show that a hub of three C-terminal MTW1 subunit motifs mediates the cooperative stabilization of the KMN network, which is augmented by a direct NDC80-SPC105 association.

Dynamics of kinetochore structure and its regulations during mitotic progression

Faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis in eukaryotes requires attachment of the kinetochore, a large protein complex assembled on the centromere of each chromosome, to the spindle microtubules. The kinetochore is a structural interface for the microtubule attachment and provides molecular surveillance mechanisms that monitor and ensure the precise microtubule attachment as well, including error correction and spindle assembly checkpoint. During mitotic progression, the kinetochore undergoes dynamic morphological changes that are observable through electron microscopy as well as through fluorescence microscopy. These structural changes might be associated with the kinetochore function. In this review, we summarize how the dynamics of kinetochore morphology are associated with its functions and discuss recent findings on the switching of protein interaction networks in the kinetochore during cell cycle progression.

Protein Complex NDC80: Properties, Functions, and Possible Role in Pathophysiology of Cell Division

Mitotic division maintains genetic identity of any multicellular organism throughout an entire lifetime. Each time a parent cell divides, chromosomes are equally distributed between the daughter cells due to the action of mitotic spindle. Mitotic spindle is formed by the microtubules that represent dynamic polymers of tubulin protein. Spindle microtubules are attached end-on to kinetochores - large multi-protein complexes on chromosomes. This review focuses on the four-subunit NDC80 complex, one of the most important kinetochore elements that plays a major role in the attachment of assembling/disassembling microtubule ends to the chromosomes. Here, we summarize published data on the structure, properties, and regulation of the NDC80 complex and discuss possible relationship between changes in the expression of genes coding for the NDC80 complex components, mitotic disorders, and oncogenesis with special emphasis on the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of NDC80.

The centromere comes into focus: from CENP-A nucleosomes to kinetochore connections with the spindle

Eukaryotic chromosome segregation relies upon specific connections from DNA to the microtubule-based spindle that forms at cell division. The chromosomal locus that directs this process is the centromere, where a structure called the kinetochore forms upon entry into mitosis. Recent crystallography and single-particle electron microscopy have provided unprecedented high-resolution views of the molecular complexes involved in this process. The centromere is epigenetically specified by nucleosomes harbouring a histone H3 variant, CENP-A, and we review recent progress on how it differentiates centromeric chromatin from the rest of the chromosome, the biochemical pathway that mediates its assembly and how two non-histone components of the centromere specifically recognize CENP-A nucleosomes. The core centromeric nucleosome complex (CCNC) is required to recruit a 16-subunit complex termed the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN), and we highlight recent structures reported of the budding yeast CCAN. Finally, the structures of multiple modular sub-complexes of the kinetochore have been solved at near-atomic resolution, providing insight into how connections are made to the CCAN on one end and to the spindle microtubules on the other. One can now build molecular models from the DNA through to the physical connections to microtubules.

Auto-inhibition of Mif2/CENP-C ensures centromere-dependent kinetochore assembly in budding yeast

Kinetochores are chromatin‐bound multi‐protein complexes that allow high‐fidelity chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis. Kinetochore assembly is exclusively initiated at chromatin containing Cse4/CENP‐A nucleosomes. The molecular mechanisms ensuring that subcomplexes assemble efficiently into kinetochores only at centromeres, but not anywhere else, are incompletely understood. Here, we combine biochemical and genetic experiments to demonstrate that auto‐inhibition of the conserved kinetochore subunit Mif2/CENP‐C contributes to preventing unscheduled kinetochore assembly in budding yeast cells. We show that wild‐type Mif2 is attenuated in its ability to bind a key downstream component in the assembly pathway, the Mtw1 complex, and that addition of Cse4 nucleosomes overcomes this inhibition. By exchanging the N‐terminus of Mif2 with its functional counterpart from Ame1/CENP‐U, we have created a Mif2 mutant which bypasses the Cse4 requirement for Mtw1 binding in vitro, thereby shortcutting kinetochore assembly. Expression of this Mif2 mutant in cells leads to mis‐localization of the Mtw1 complex and causes pronounced chromosome segregation defects. We propose that auto‐inhibition of Mif2/CENP‐C constitutes a key concept underlying the molecular logic of kinetochore assembly.

Hec1/Ndc80 Tail Domain Function at the Kinetochore-Microtubule Interface

Successful mitotic cell division is critically dependent on the formation of correct attachments between chromosomes and spindle microtubules. Microtubule attachments are mediated by kinetochores, which are large proteinaceous structures assembled on centromeric chromatin of mitotic chromosomes. These attachments must be sufficiently stable to transduce force; however, the strength of these attachments are also tightly regulated to ensure timely, error-free progression through mitosis. The highly conserved, kinetochore-associated NDC80 complex is a core component of the kinetochore-microtubule attachment machinery in eukaryotic cells. A small, disordered region within the Hec1 subunit of the NDC80 complex – the N-terminal “tail” domain – has been actively investigated during the last decade due to its roles in generating and regulating kinetochore-microtubule attachments. In this review, we discuss the role of the NDC80 complex, and specifically the Hec1 tail domain, at the kinetochore-microtubule interface, and how recent studies provide a more unified view of Hec1 tail domain function.

CenH3-Independent Kinetochore Assembly in Lepidoptera Requires CCAN, Including CENP-T

Accurate chromosome segregation requires assembly of the multiprotein kinetochore complex at centromeres. In most eukaryotes, kinetochore assembly is primed by the histone H3 variant CenH3 (also called CENP-A), which physically interacts with components of the inner kinetochore constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN). Unexpectedly, regarding its critical function, previous work identified that select eukaryotic lineages, including several insects, have lost CenH3 while having retained homologs of the CCAN. These findings imply alternative CCAN assembly pathways in these organisms that function in CenH3-independent manners. Here we study the composition and assembly of CenH3-deficient kinetochores of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). We show that lepidopteran kinetochores consist of previously identified CCAN homologs as well as additional components, including a divergent CENP-T homolog, that are required for accurate mitotic progression. Our study focuses on CENP-T, which we found to be sufficient to recruit the Mis12 and Ndc80 outer kinetochore complexes. In addition, CRISPR-mediated gene editing in Bombyx mori establishes an essential function of CENP-T in vivo. Finally, the retention of CENP-T and additional CCAN homologs in other independently derived CenH3-deficient insects indicates a conserved mechanism of kinetochore assembly between these lineages. Our study provides the first functional insights into CCAN-based kinetochore assembly pathways that function independently of CenH3, contributing to the emerging picture of an unexpected plasticity to build a kinetochore.

Plk1 protects kinetochore-centromere architecture against microtubule pulling forces

During mitosis, sister chromatids attach to microtubules which generate ~ 700 pN pulling force focused on the centromere. We report that chromatin-localized signals generated by Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) maintain the integrity of the kinetochore and centromere against this force. Without sufficient Plk1 activity, chromosomes become misaligned after normal condensation and congression. These chromosomes are silent to the mitotic checkpoint, and many lag and mis-segregate in anaphase. Their centromeres and kinetochores lack CENP-A, CENP-C, CENP-T, Hec1, Nuf2, and Knl1; however, CENP-B is retained. CENP-A loss occurs coincident with secondary misalignment and anaphase onset. This disruption occurs asymmetrically prior to anaphase and requires tension generated by microtubules. Mechanistically, centromeres highly recruit PICH DNA helicase and PICH depletion restores kinetochore disruption in pre-anaphase cells. Furthermore, anaphase defects are significantly reduced by tethering Plk1 to chromatin, including H2B, and INCENP, but not to CENP-A. Taken as a whole, this demonstrates that Plk1 signals are crucial for stabilizing centromeric architecture against tension.

Structural analysis of fungal CENP-H/I/K homologs reveals a conserved assembly mechanism underlying proper chromosome alignment

The kinetochore is a proteinaceous complex that is essential for proper chromosome segregation. As a core member of the inner kinetochore, defects of each subunit in the CENP-H/I/K complex cause dysfunction of kinetochore that leads to chromosome mis-segregation and cell death. However, how the CENP-H/I/K complex assembles and promotes kinetochore function are poorly understood. We here determined the crystal structures of CENP-I N-terminus alone from Chaetomium thermophilum and its complex with CENP-H/K from Thielavia terrestris, and verified the identified interactions. The structures and biochemical analyses show that CENP-H and CENP-K form a heterodimer through both N- and C-terminal interactions. CENP-I integrates into the CENP-H/K complex by binding to the C-terminus of CENP-H, leading to formation of the ternary complex in which CENP-H is sandwiched between CENP-K and CENP-I. Our sequence comparisons and mutational analyses showed that this architecture of the CENP–H/I/K complex is conserved in human. Mutating the binding interfaces of CENP-H for either CENP-K or CENP-I significantly reduced their localizations at centromeres and induced massive chromosome alignment defects during mitosis, suggesting that the identified interactions are critical for CENP-H/I/K complex assembly at the centromere and kinetochore function. Altogether, our findings unveil the evolutionarily conserved assembly mechanism of the CENP-H/I/K complex that is critical for proper chromosome alignment.

Structure of the Human Core Centromeric Nucleosome Complex

Centromeric nucleosomes are at the interface of the chromosome and the kinetochore that connects to spindle microtubules in mitosis. The core centromeric nucleosome complex (CCNC) harbors the histone H3 variant, CENP-A, and its binding proteins, CENP-C (through its central domain; CD) and CENP-N (through its N-terminal domain; NT). CENP-C can engage nucleosomes through two domains: the CD and the CENP-C motif (CM). CENP-CCD is part of the CCNC by virtue of its high specificity for CENP-A nucleosomes and ability to stabilize CENP-A at the centromere. CENP-CCM is thought to engage a neighboring nucleosome, either one containing conventional H3 or CENP-A, and a crystal structure of a nucleosome complex containing two copies of CENP-CCM was reported. Recent structures containing a single copy of CENP-NNT bound to the CENP-A nucleosome in the absence of CENP-C were reported. Here, we find that one copy of CENP-N is lost for every two copies of CENP-C on centromeric chromatin just prior to kinetochore formation. We present the structures of symmetric and asymmetric forms of the CCNC that vary in CENP-N stoichiometry. Our structures explain how the central domain of CENP-C achieves its high specificity for CENP-A nucleosomes and how CENP-C and CENP-N sandwich the histone H4 tail. The natural centromeric DNA path in our structures corresponds to symmetric surfaces for CCNC assembly, deviating from what is observed in prior structures using artificial sequences. At mitosis, we propose that CCNC asymmetry accommodates its asymmetric connections at the chromosome/kinetochore interface. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

The stoichiometry of the outer kinetochore is modulated by microtubule-proximal regulatory factors

Dhatchinamoorthy et al. suggest the stoichiometry of outer submodules of the budding yeast kinetochore is strongly influenced by factors at the kinetochore–microtubule interface such as Fin1 and Dam1. Outer kinetochore stoichiometry is remarkably plastic and responsive to microtubule-proximal regulation.

The kinetochore is a large molecular machine that attaches chromosomes to microtubules and facilitates chromosome segregation. The kinetochore includes submodules that associate with the centromeric DNA and submodules that attach to microtubules. Additional copies of several submodules of the kinetochore are added during anaphase, including the microtubule binding module Ndc80. While the factors governing plasticity are not known, they could include regulation based on microtubule–kinetochore interactions. We report that Fin1 localizes to the microtubule-proximal edge of the kinetochore cluster during anaphase based on single-particle averaging of super-resolution images. Fin1 is required for the assembly of normal levels of Dam1 and Ndc80 submodules. Levels of Ndc80 further depend on the Dam1 microtubule binding complex. Our results suggest the stoichiometry of outer kinetochore submodules is strongly influenced by factors at the kinetochore–microtubule interface such as Fin1 and Dam1, and phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinase. Outer kinetochore stoichiometry is remarkably plastic and responsive to microtubule-proximal regulation.

Where is the right path heading from the centromere to spindle microtubules?

The kinetochore is a large protein complex that ensures accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis by connecting the centromere and spindle microtubules. One of the kinetochore sub-complexes, the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), associates with the centromere and recruits another sub-complex, the KMN (KNL1, Mis12, and Ndc80 complexes) network (KMN), which binds to spindle microtubules. The CCAN-KMN interaction is mediated by two parallel pathways (CENP-C- and CENP-T-pathways) in the kinetochore, which bridge the centromere and microtubules. Here, we discuss dynamic protein-interaction changes in the two pathways that couple the centromere with spindle microtubules during mitotic progression.

Tight bending of the Ndc80 complex provides intrinsic regulation of its binding to microtubules

Regulation of the outer kinetochore complex Ndc80 is essential to ensure correct kinetochore-microtubule attachments during mitosis. Here, we present a novel mechanism of regulation that is intrinsic to its structure; tight bending of the Ndc80 complex inhibits its microtubule binding. Using single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we show that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ndc80 complex can fluctuate between straight and bent forms, and that binding of the complex to microtubules selects for straightened forms. The loop region of the complex enables its bent conformation, as deletion of the loop promotes straightening. In addition, the kinetochore complex MIND enhances microtubule binding by opposing the tightly bent, auto-inhibited conformation of the Ndc80 complex. We suggest that prior to its assembly at the kinetochore, the Ndc80 complex interchanges between bent (auto-inhibited) and open conformations. Once assembled, its association with MIND stabilizes the Ndc80 complex in a straightened form for higher affinity microtubule binding.

The structure of the Ctf19c/CCAN from budding yeast

Eukaryotic kinetochores connect spindlemicrotubules to chromosomal centromeres. A group of proteins called the Ctf19 complex (Ctf19c) in yeast and the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN) in other organisms creates the foundation of a kinetochore. The Ctf19c/CCAN influences the timing of kinetochore assembly, sets its location by associating with a specialized nucleosome containing the histone H3 variant Cse4/CENP-A, and determines the organization of the microtubule attachment apparatus. We present here the structure of a reconstituted 13-subunit Ctf19c determined by cryo-electron microscopy at ~4 Å resolution. The structure accounts for known and inferred contacts with the Cse4 nucleosome and for an observed assembly hierarchy. We describe its implications for establishment of kinetochores and for their regulation by kinases throughout the cell cycle.

A role for CENP-A/Cse4 phosphorylation on serine 33 in deposition at the centromere

Centromeres are the sites of assembly of the kinetochore, which connect the chromatids to the microtubules for sister chromatid segregation during cell division. Centromeres are characterized by the presence of the histone H3 variant CENP-A (termed Cse4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Here, we investigated the function of serine 33 phosphorylation of Cse4 (Cse4-S33ph) in S. cerevisiae, which lies within the essential N-terminal domain (END) of the extended Cse4 N-terminus. Significantly, we identified histone H4-K5, 8, 12R to cause a temperature-sensitive growth defect with mutations in Cse4-S33 and sensitivity to nocodazole and hydroxyurea. Furthermore, the absence of Cse4-S33ph reduced the levels of Cse4 at centromeric sequences, suggesting that Cse4 deposition is defective in the absence of S33 phosphorylation. We furthermore identified synthetic genetic interactions with histone H2A-E57A and H2A-L66A, which both cause a reduced interaction with the histone chaperone FACT and reduced H2A/H2B levels in chromatin, again supporting the notion that a combined defect of H2A/H2B and Cse4 deposition causes centromeric defects. Altogether, our data highlight the importance of correct histone deposition in building a functional centromeric nucleosome and suggests a role for Cse4-S33ph in this process.

Reconstitution of a 26-Subunit Human Kinetochore Reveals Cooperative Microtubule Binding by CENP-OPQUR and NDC80

The approximately thirty core subunits of kinetochores assemble on centromeric chromatin containing the histone H3 variant CENP-A and connect chromosomes with spindle microtubules. The chromatin proximal 16-subunit CCAN (constitutive centromere associated network) creates a mechanically stable bridge between CENP-A and the kinetochore’s microtubule-binding machinery, the 10-subunit KMN assembly. Here, we reconstituted a stoichiometric 11-subunit human CCAN core that forms when the CENP-OPQUR complex binds to a joint interface on the CENP-HIKM and CENP-LN complexes. The resulting CCAN particle is globular and connects KMN and CENP-A in a 26-subunit recombinant particle. The disordered, basic N-terminal tail of CENP-Q binds microtubules and promotes accurate chromosome alignment, cooperating with KMN in microtubule binding. The N-terminal basic tail of the NDC80 complex, the microtubule-binding subunit of KMN, can functionally replace the CENP-Q tail. Our work dissects the connectivity and architecture of CCAN and reveals unexpected functional similarities between CENP-OPQUR and the NDC80 complex.

•

The kinetochore CENP-OPQUR complex is reconstituted and functionally dissected

•

A kinetochore particle with 26 subunits and defined stoichiometry is reconstituted

•

EM structure of an 11-subunit inner kinetochore complex reveals globular shape

•

CENP-Q and the Ndc80 complex bind microtubules cooperatively

An assay for de novo kinetochore assembly reveals a key role for the CENP-T pathway in budding yeast

Chromosome segregation depends on the kinetochore, the machine that establishes force-bearing attachments between DNA and spindle microtubules. Kinetochores are formed every cell cycle via a highly regulated process that requires coordinated assembly of multiple subcomplexes on specialized chromatin. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we developed an assay to assemble kinetochores de novo using centromeric DNA and budding yeast extracts. Assembly is enhanced by mitotic phosphorylation of the Dsn1 kinetochore protein and generates kinetochores capable of binding microtubules. We used this assay to investigate why kinetochores recruit the microtubule-binding Ndc80 complex via two receptors: the Mis12 complex and CENP-T. Although the CENP-T pathway is non-essential in yeast, we demonstrate that it becomes essential for viability and Ndc80c recruitment when the Mis12 pathway is crippled by defects in Dsn1 phosphorylation. Assembling kinetochores de novo in yeast extracts provides a powerful and genetically tractable method to elucidate critical regulatory events in the future.

The kinetochore-microtubule interface at a glance

Accurate chromosome segregation critically depends on the formation of attachments between microtubule polymers and each sister chromatid. The kinetochore is the macromolecular complex that assembles at the centromere of each chromosome during mitosis and serves as the link between the DNA and the microtubules. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we discuss the activities and molecular players that are involved in generating kinetochore-microtubule attachments, including the initial stages of lateral kinetochore-microtubule interactions and maturation to stabilized end-on attachments. We additionally explore the features that contribute to the ability of the kinetochore to track with dynamic microtubules. Finally, we examine the contributions of microtubule-associated proteins to the organization and stabilization of the mitotic spindle and the control of microtubule dynamics.

Defects in methylation of arginine 37 on CENP-A/Cse4 are compensated by the ubiquitin ligase complex Ubr2/Mub1

The kinetochore, a supramolecular protein complex, provides the physical connection between chromatin and the microtubule and ensures correct chromosome segregation during mitosis. Centromeric regions are marked by the presence of the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Cse4, the CENP-A homologue from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is methylated on arginine 37 in its N-terminus (R37), and the absence of methylation (cse4-R37A) causes synthetic genetic defects in combination with mutations or deletions in genes encoding components of the Ctf19/CCAN complex and with the CDEI binding protein Cbf1. Here, we report that the absence of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Ubr2 as well as its adaptor protein Mub1 suppresses the defects caused by the absence of Cse4-R37 methylation. Ubr2 is known to regulate the levels of the MIND complex component Dsn1 via ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. Accordingly, we found that overexpression of DSN1 also led to suppression of Cse4 methylation defects. Altogether, our data indicate that the absence of R37 methylation reduces the recruitment of kinetochore proteins to centromeric chromatin, and that this can be compensated for by stabilising the outer kinetochore protein Dsn1.

Mislocalization of centromeric histone H3 variant CENP-A contributes to chromosomal instability (CIN) in human cells

Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a hallmark of many cancers and a major contributor to tumorigenesis. Centromere and kinetochore associated proteins such as the evolutionarily conserved centromeric histone H3 variant CENP-A, associate with centromeric DNA for centromere function and chromosomal stability. Stringent regulation of cellular CENP-A levels prevents its mislocalization in yeast and flies to maintain genome stability. CENP-A overexpression and mislocalization are observed in several cancers and reported to be associated with increased invasiveness and poor prognosis. We examined whether there is a direct relationship between mislocalization of overexpressed CENP-A and CIN using HeLa and chromosomally stable diploid RPE1 cell lines as model systems. Our results show that mislocalization of overexpressed CENP-A to chromosome arms leads to chromosome congression defects, lagging chromosomes, micronuclei formation and a delay in mitotic exit. CENP-A overexpressing cells showed altered localization of centromere and kinetochore associated proteins such as CENP-C, CENP-T and Nuf2 leading to weakened native kinetochores as shown by reduced interkinetochore distance and CIN. Importantly, our results show that mislocalization of CENP-A to chromosome arms is one of the major contributors for CIN as depletion of histone chaperone DAXX prevents CENP-A mislocalization and rescues the reduced interkinetochore distance and CIN phenotype in CENP-A overexpressing cells. In summary, our results establish that CENP-A overexpression and mislocalization result in a CIN phenotype in human cells. This study provides insights into how overexpression of CENP-A may contribute to CIN in cancers and underscore the importance of understanding the pathways that prevent CENP-A mislocalization for genome stability.

Multivalency of NDC80 in the outer kinetochore is essential to track shortening microtubules and generate forces

Presence of multiple copies of the microtubule-binding NDC80 complex is an evolutionary conserved feature of kinetochores, points of attachment of chromosomes to spindle microtubules. This may enable multivalent attachments to microtubules, with implications that remain unexplored. Using recombinant human kinetochore components, we show that while single NDC80 complexes do not track depolymerizing microtubules, reconstituted particles containing the NDC80 receptor CENP-T bound to three or more NDC80 complexes do so effectively, as expected for a kinetochore force coupler. To study multivalency systematically, we engineered modules allowing incremental addition of NDC80 complexes. The modules’ residence time on microtubules increased exponentially with the number of NDC80 complexes. Modules with two or more complexes tracked depolymerizing microtubules with increasing efficiencies, and stalled and rescued microtubule depolymerization in a force-dependent manner when conjugated to cargo. Our observations indicate that NDC80, rather than through biased diffusion, tracks depolymerizing microtubules by harnessing force generated during microtubule disassembly.

Before a cell divides, its genome duplicates so that each copy can be given to the daughter cells. In a dividing cell, the chromosomes – the structures that store genetic information – look like an ‘X’. This is because each chromosome is formed of two identical, rod-like, ‘sister chromatids’ which are attached by their middle. Each daughter cell should inherit one of the chromatids.

As division progresses, both sister chromatids in a pair fasten to ‘microtubules’, string-like structures made of a large number of identical proteins stacked together. These strings attach each chromatids to opposite sides of the cell. Then, the ends of the microtubules that bind to a chromatid start to peel off and disassemble. The microtubules get shorter and shorter, which creates a force that pulls the chromatids apart.

Microtubules latch on a chromatid via a large structure known as the kinetochore, which has tether-like protein complexes called NDC80 at its surface. NDC80 links the kinetochore with the microtubules, yet little is known about this connection. In particular, it is unclear how this complex relays the forces from the shortening microtubules to the chromatids, and how many NDC80 complexes are required for this process.

To study how these proteins interact without any molecular background ‘noise’ from the cell, Volkov, Huis in ‘t Veld et al. engineered simplified versions of the microtubule-kinetochore-NDC80 connection using components of human kinetochores. These versions, named ‘modules’, contained different numbers of NDC80 complexes, from one to four copies.

Volkov, Huis in ‘t Veld et al. found that single NDC80 complexes did not follow the microtubules as they shortened, while the connections with two or more NDC80 complexes did. When a few modules, each with two or three NDC80s, were closeby, they also bound to the end of the same shortening microtubule, and captured more force as a team. NDC80 complexes therefore work together to connect to microtubule ends and harness their energy.

The artificial kinetochore-microtubule-NDC80 connections developed by Volkov, Huis in ‘t Veld et al. provides a new method to study how cells divide, and it could reveal how other proteins and biological processes participate in this mechanism. It could also help understand how chromatids are kept from separating incorrectly during division, which is an error that could be fatal for the cell.

Kinetochore assembly and disassembly during mitotic entry and exit

Faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis in eukaryotes requires a large protein complex, kinetochore, formed on the centromere of each chromosome, to attach to spindle microtubules. Among the kinetochore proteins, Constitutive Centromere-Associated Network (CCAN) and KMN-network proteins form the base of the vertebrate kinetochore architecture. The CCAN proteins constitutively localize to the centromere throughout the cell cycle, whereas KMN-network proteins are recruited to the CCAN only during mitosis. Recent studies in cellular and structural biology, as well as biochemical reconstitutions, have revealed that mitotic phosphorylation of kinetochore proteins has critical roles in kinetochore organization. Here, we discuss the molecular processes of kinetochore assembly during mitotic entry and its disassembly during mitotic exit.

Molecular Structures of Yeast Kinetochore Subcomplexes and Their Roles in Chromosome Segregation

Kinetochore molecular architecture exemplifies "form follows function." The simplifications that generated the one-chromosome:one-microtubule linkage in point-centromere yeast have enabled strategies for systematic structural analysis and high-resolution visualization of many kinetochore components, leading to specific proposals for molecular mechanisms. We describe here some structural features that allow a kinetochore to remain attached to the end of a depolymerizing microtubule (MT) and some characteristics of the connections between substructures that permit very sensitive regulation by differential kinase activities. We emphasize in particular the importance of flexible connections between rod-like structural members and the integration of these members into a compliant cage-like assembly anchored on the MT by a sliding molecular ring.