Research report 2006 - Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry

Chromosome segregation in vertebrates

Authors
Stemmann, Olaf
Departments

Chromosomensegregation und Mitose (Stemmann, Abteilung Molekulare Zellbiologie, DFG/Emmy Noether) (Dr. Olaf Stemmann)
MPI für Biochemie, Martinsried

Summary
The exact halfing of the previously replicated chromosomes during mitosis and both meiotic divisions is crucial to avoid tumor formation and trisomies. Chromosomes are separated by action of separase, a giant protease, which cleaves chromosomal cohesin. Researchers from the Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry recently discovered a new regulation and an unexpected, non-proteolytic function of this key enzyme.

For the full text, see the German version.

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