BUB1 and BUBR1: multifaceted kinases of the cell cycle

• Published in: Trends in biochemical sciences (Amsterdam. Regular ed.) Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 141 - 150
• Main Authors: Bolanos-Garcia, Victor M., Blundell, Tom L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2011; Elsevier Trends Journals
• Subjects: amino acid sequences; anaphase; Animals; Cell Cycle - genetics; Cell Cycle - physiology; chromosome segregation; Chromosome Segregation - genetics; chromosomes; eukaryotic cells; Humans; mitotic spindle apparatus; Mutation; Neoplasms - enzymology; Neoplasms - genetics; protein kinase; protein kinases; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; proteins; Review; segregation; yeasts
• ISSN: 0968-0004; 1362-4326
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2010.08.004

The multidomain protein kinases BUB1 and BUBR1 (Mad3 in yeast, worms and plants) are central components of the mitotic checkpoint for spindle assembly (SAC). This evolutionarily conserved and essential self-monitoring system of the eukaryotic cell cycle ensures the high fidelity of chromosome segregation by delaying the onset of anaphase until all chromosomes are properly bi-oriented on the mitotic spindle. Despite their amino acid sequence conservation and similar domain organization, BUB1 and BUBR1 perform different functions in the SAC. Recent structural information provides crucial molecular insights into the regulation and recognition of BUB1 and BUBR1, and a solid foundation to dissect the roles of these proteins in the control of chromosome segregation in normal and oncogenic cells.