A blueprint for kinetochores - new insights into the molecular mechanics of cell division

Kinetochores are large proteinaceous complexes that physically link centromeric DNA to the plus ends of spindle microtubules. Stable kinetochore-microtubule attachments are a prerequisite for the accurate and efficient distribution of genetic material over multiple generations. In the past decade, concerted research has resulted in the identification of the individual kinetochore building blocks, the characterization of critical microtubule-interacting components, such as the NDC80 complex, and the development of an approximate model of the architecture of this sophisticated biological machine.