microtubule Kinetochore capture of astral microtubules Authored: Matthews, L, 2008-08-24 03:27:07 Edited: Matthews, L, 2008-08-24 03:27:07 Pubmed11553716 Pubmed16622419 Pubmed16622420 Pubmed17030981 Pubmed17129783 Pubmed18097444 Reactome Database ID Release 43375302 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_14798 Reviewed: Cheeseman, IM, 2008-09-02 04:22:10 The human kinetochore, is a complex proteinaceous structure that assembles on centromeric DNA and mediates the association of mitotic chromosomes with spindle microtubules in prometaphase. The molecular composition of the human kinetochore is reviewed in detail in Cheeseman et al., 2008. This complex structure is composed of numerous protein complexes and networks including: the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN) containing several sub-networks such as (CENP-H, I, K), (CENP-50/U, O, P, Q, R), the KMN network (containing KNL1, the Mis12 complex, and the Ndc80 complex), the chromosomal passenger complex, the mitotic checkpoint complex, the nucleoporin 107-160 complex and the RZZ complex. <br>At prometaphase, following breakdown of the nuclear envelope, the kinetochores of condensed chromosomes begin to interact with spindle microtubules. In humans, 15-20 microtubules are bound to each kinetochore (McEwen et al., 2001), and the attachment of 15 microtubules to the kinetochore is shown in this reaction. Recently, it was found that the core kinetochore-microtubule attachment site is within the KMN network and is likely to be formed by two closely apposed low-affinity microtubule-binding sites, one in the Ndc80 complex and a second in KNL1 (Cheeseman et al., 2006). has a Stoichiometric coefficient of 15 Kinetochore Microtubule-bound kinetochore