Genomic Stability and Kinetochore–Microtubule Dynamics

Genome stability is ensured by temporal control of kinetochore–microtubule dynamics is authored by Samuel F. Bakhoum, Sarah L. Thompson, Amity L. Manning and Duane A. Compton. The paper appears in Nature Cell Biology (27 - 35, January 2009 Volume 11, Issue 1). The authors state that during mitosis genomic stability in human cells is linked to the control of microtubule attachment to chromosomes. Specifically shown was "a causal relationship between deregulation of kinetochore–microtubule dynamics and chromosomal instability." This was accomplished by demonstrating that chromosomal stability can be restored within chromosomally unstable tumor cells by stimulating microtubule dynamics at kinetochores. In the words of the authors:

Chromosome segregation requires stable microtubule attachment at kinetochores, yet those attachments must be sufficiently dynamic to permit correction of mal-orientations.

How this balance is achieved is unknown, and the permissible boundaries of attachment stability versus dynamics essential for genome stability remain poorly understood.