Centomere and Kinetochore Proteins

Centromeres are the chromosomal regions responsible for poleward movement at meiosis and mitosis, and are essential for the faithful segregation of genetic information. Centromeres of most organisms are embedded within constitutive heterochromatin, the condensed regions of chromosomes that account for a large fraction of complex genomes. Centromere function requires the coordination of many processes including kinetochore assembly, sister chromatid cohesion, spindle attachment and chromosome movement. Centromeric proteins include chromosomal passenger complex. It's name stems from the observation that these proteins colocalise on condensing chromosomes during prophase, and are carried along to centromeres and to the equator of the mitotic spindle during metaphase. After metaphase, the components re-localise to the midzone and midbody of the spindle, where they remain until the completion of cytokinesis. For information on the structure and constituents of centromeres and kinetochores, see Organization of the animal kinetochore in The dynamic kinetochore-microtubule interface.