Aurora B: the importance of when, how and where

Trabajo presentado en los Cell and Developmental Biology Programme Seminar. Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG)., celebrado en el 22 de junio de 2015During mitosis, it is of paramount importance that the genetic material is correctly distributed between the dividing cells. Several surveillance mechanisms ensure the faithful duplication of the DNA and its proper segregation in anaphase. Among these mechanisms, the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) specifically checks that all chromosomes are attached to the mitotic spindle, a bipolar array of microtubules that allows for the segregation of the chromosomes. However, for the correct distribution of the genetic material during mitosis it is not only essential that every chromosome is attached to the spindle, but also that they do so in a way that each sister chromatid of the same chromosome attaches to a different spindle pole. The proper bi-orientation of the chromosomes is facilitated by Aurora B kinase, a key regulator of the cell cycle. I will discuss the effects of the deregulation of Aurora B activity during the cell cycle, and I will provide new insights into how Aurora B and the SAC collaborate to ensure the proper attachment of the chromosomes to the mitotic spindle