EXPLORING THE MITOTIC FUNCTION OF A SUBUNIT OF THE MOLECULAR MOTOR CYTOPLASMIC DYNEIN

Abstract

The key players in maintaining the gene function and inheritance are eukaryotic chromosomes. The mechanisms and architecture involved in controlling chromosome distribution at mitosis and meiosis are crucial to maintain the stability and activity of the genes and genomes. Much of the energy of a cell is expended in preserving their chromosomes probity. The chromosome imbalances during development causes embryonic casualities, and chromosome instability which prompts the onset of tumours. One serious cause of cancer development is chromosome instability and is associated with poor prediction and diagnosis. The misregulation and mutation of genes alters functioning at the kinetochores, spindle checkpoints, and sister chromatid cohesion are main cause of development of various cancer types. To minimize the production of aneuploid progeny during mitosis, cells have developed a checkpoint competent of delaying sister chromatid separation in the presence of nonattached or improperly attached kinetochores. The function of SAC is to monitor the interaction between spindle microtubules and kinetochores and if chromosomes are not properly bioriented it will prevent the separation of sister chromatids and exit from mitosis. It is now becoming abundantly clear that misregulation of cell cycle checkpoints underlays not just the birth defects, but very much to the tumorigenesis. Thus, for better development of therapeutic approaches that could transform most cancers into chronic diseases allowing a more rational and adequate management of the disease, it has become all important to unravel the basic biology of cell.