spindle

Institute in Zagreb, Croatia, provided expertise in comparative genomics and mitotic spindle geometry and biophysics, respectively.

The process of dividing the sister chromatids over the cells is guided by the interaction between the centromeres and structures known as spindle microtubules.

These spindle microtubules are responsible for pulling the chromatids apart and thus separating the two sister chromatids.

Carlos Sacristan Lopez, the first author of this study, explains: 'If the attachment of the centromere to the spindle microtubules does not occur properly it leads to chromosome segregation mistakes which are frequently observed in cancer.'

Previously believed to consist of a compact structure attaching to multiple spindle microtubules, it was instead revealed that the centromere consists of two subdomains.