Establishment of the vertebrate kinetochores

The centromere is essential for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis to achieve transmission of genetic information to daughter cells. To facilitate accurate chromosome segregation, the centromere serves several specific functions, including microtubule binding, spindle-checkpoint control, and sister chromatid cohesion. The kinetochore is formed on the centromere to achieve these functions. To understand kinetochore structure and function, it is critical to identify the protein components of the kinetochore and characterize the functional properties of each component. Here, we review recent progress with regard to the molecular architecture of the kinetochore and discuss the future directions for centromere biology.