Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.9
5.1
Journals
Cells
Special Issues
Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease
share announcement

Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 24137

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Geert J.P.L. Kops

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Oncode Institute and Hubrecht Institute (KNAW), Utrecht, The Netherlands
Interests: mitosis; kinetochore; cell division; aneuploidy; chromosomal instability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cell division is the driving force for the propagation of life. The cycles of division involve growth, the duplication of cellular contents, and the eventual distribution of those contents to daughter cells during cellular fission. A key event in this cycle is the equal distribution of the cell’s duplicated genetic material in the form of compacted chromosomes. In a mere few minutes at the end of the division cycle, cells achieve a remarkable feat: they go from having a bunch of condensed, duplicated chromosomes in the nucleus to having all those chromosomes attached to spindle microtubules in a manner that allows the duplicated copies to move to opposite sides prior to fission. Mistakes in this process can lead to unequal chromosome segregation, resulting in aneuploid daughter cells. Such mistakes can have a profound impact on embryonic development and healthy tissues homeostasis: aneuploidy is a common cause of birth defects, and is widespread in human tumors. In this Special Issue, we highlight mechanisms that ensure high-fidelity chromosome segregation, as well as the molecular causes of mistakes and their consequences for cells and tissues.

Prof. Dr. Geert Kops
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mitosis
  • spindle
  • chromosome segregation
  • aneuploidy
  • chromosomal instability

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

15 pages, 1237 KiB  
Review
Chromosomal Instability-Driven Cancer Progression: Interplay with the Tumour Microenvironment and Therapeutic Strategies
by Siqi Zheng, Erika Guerrero-Haughton and Floris Foijer
Cells 2023, 12(23), 2712; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12232712 - 26 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2361
Abstract
Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a prevalent characteristic of solid tumours and haematological malignancies. CIN results in an increased frequency of chromosome mis-segregation events, thus yielding numerical and structural copy number alterations, a state also known as aneuploidy. CIN is associated with increased chances [...] Read more.
Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a prevalent characteristic of solid tumours and haematological malignancies. CIN results in an increased frequency of chromosome mis-segregation events, thus yielding numerical and structural copy number alterations, a state also known as aneuploidy. CIN is associated with increased chances of tumour recurrence, metastasis, and acquisition of resistance to therapeutic interventions, and this is a dismal prognosis. In this review, we delve into the interplay between CIN and cancer, with a focus on its impact on the tumour microenvironment—a driving force behind metastasis. We discuss the potential therapeutic avenues that have resulted from these insights and underscore their crucial role in shaping innovative strategies for cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1150 KiB  
Review
Chromosome Inequality: Causes and Consequences of Non-Random Segregation Errors in Mitosis and Meiosis
by Sjoerd J. Klaasen and Geert J. P. L. Kops
Cells 2022, 11(22), 3564; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11223564 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4666
Abstract
Aneuploidy is a hallmark of cancer and a major cause of miscarriages in humans. It is caused by chromosome segregation errors during cell divisions. Evidence is mounting that the probability of specific chromosomes undergoing a segregation error is non-random. In other words, some [...] Read more.
Aneuploidy is a hallmark of cancer and a major cause of miscarriages in humans. It is caused by chromosome segregation errors during cell divisions. Evidence is mounting that the probability of specific chromosomes undergoing a segregation error is non-random. In other words, some chromosomes have a higher chance of contributing to aneuploid karyotypes than others. This could have important implications for the origins of recurrent aneuploidy patterns in cancer and developing embryos. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the prevalence and causes of non-random chromosome segregation errors in mammalian mitosis and meiosis. We evaluate its potential impact on cancer and human reproduction and discuss possible research avenues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1259 KiB  
Review
Separase Control and Cohesin Cleavage in Oocytes: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
by Katja Wassmann
Cells 2022, 11(21), 3399; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11213399 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3570
Abstract
The key to gametogenesis is the proper execution of a specialized form of cell division named meiosis. Prior to the meiotic divisions, the recombination of maternal and paternal chromosomes creates new genetic combinations necessary for fitness and adaptation to an ever-changing environment. Two [...] Read more.
The key to gametogenesis is the proper execution of a specialized form of cell division named meiosis. Prior to the meiotic divisions, the recombination of maternal and paternal chromosomes creates new genetic combinations necessary for fitness and adaptation to an ever-changing environment. Two rounds of chromosome segregation -meiosis I and II- have to take place without intermediate S-phase and lead to the creation of haploid gametes harboring only half of the genetic material. Importantly, the segregation patterns of the two divisions are fundamentally different and require adaptation of the mitotic cell cycle machinery to the specificities of meiosis. Separase, the enzyme that cleaves Rec8, a subunit of the cohesin complex constituting the physical connection between sister chromatids, has to be activated twice: once in meiosis I and immediately afterwards, in meiosis II. Rec8 is cleaved on chromosome arms in meiosis I and in the centromere region in meiosis II. This step-wise cohesin removal is essential to generate gametes of the correct ploidy and thus, embryo viability. Hence, separase control and Rec8 cleavage must be perfectly controlled in time and space. Focusing on mammalian oocytes, this review lays out what we know and what we still ignore about this fascinating mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 3252 KiB  
Review
Polar Chromosomes—Challenges of a Risky Path
by Kruno Vukušić and Iva M. Tolić
Cells 2022, 11(9), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11091531 - 3 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4379
Abstract
The process of chromosome congression and alignment is at the core of mitotic fidelity. In this review, we discuss distinct spatial routes that the chromosomes take to align during prometaphase, which are characterized by distinct biomolecular requirements. Peripheral polar chromosomes are an intriguing [...] Read more.
The process of chromosome congression and alignment is at the core of mitotic fidelity. In this review, we discuss distinct spatial routes that the chromosomes take to align during prometaphase, which are characterized by distinct biomolecular requirements. Peripheral polar chromosomes are an intriguing case as their alignment depends on the activity of kinetochore motors, polar ejection forces, and a transition from lateral to end-on attachments to microtubules, all of which can result in the delayed alignment of these chromosomes. Due to their undesirable position close to and often behind the spindle pole, these chromosomes may be particularly prone to the formation of erroneous kinetochore-microtubule interactions, such as merotelic attachments. To prevent such errors, the cell employs intricate mechanisms to preposition the spindle poles with respect to chromosomes, ensure the formation of end-on attachments in restricted spindle regions, repair faulty attachments by error correction mechanisms, and delay segregation by the spindle assembly checkpoint. Despite this protective machinery, there are several ways in which polar chromosomes can fail in alignment, mis-segregate, and lead to aneuploidy. In agreement with this, polar chromosomes are present in certain tumors and may even be involved in the process of tumorigenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 16989 KiB  
Review
Consequences of Chromosome Loss: Why Do Cells Need Each Chromosome Twice?
by Narendra Kumar Chunduri, Karen Barthel and Zuzana Storchova
Cells 2022, 11(9), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11091530 - 3 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4668
Abstract
Aneuploidy is a cellular state with an unbalanced chromosome number that deviates from the usual euploid status. During evolution, elaborate cellular mechanisms have evolved to maintain the correct chromosome content over generations. The rare errors often lead to cell death, cell cycle arrest, [...] Read more.
Aneuploidy is a cellular state with an unbalanced chromosome number that deviates from the usual euploid status. During evolution, elaborate cellular mechanisms have evolved to maintain the correct chromosome content over generations. The rare errors often lead to cell death, cell cycle arrest, or impaired proliferation. At the same time, aneuploidy can provide a growth advantage under selective conditions in a stressful, frequently changing environment. This is likely why aneuploidy is commonly found in cancer cells, where it correlates with malignancy, drug resistance, and poor prognosis. To understand this “aneuploidy paradox”, model systems have been established and analyzed to investigate the consequences of aneuploidy. Most of the evidence to date has been based on models with chromosomes gains, but chromosome losses and recurrent monosomies can also be found in cancer. We summarize the current models of chromosome loss and our understanding of its consequences, particularly in comparison to chromosome gains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1888 KiB  
Review
SWAP, SWITCH, and STABILIZE: Mechanisms of Kinetochore–Microtubule Error Correction
by Tomoyuki U. Tanaka and Tongli Zhang
Cells 2022, 11(9), 1462; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11091462 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3210
Abstract
For correct chromosome segregation in mitosis, eukaryotic cells must establish chromosome biorientation where sister kinetochores attach to microtubules extending from opposite spindle poles. To establish biorientation, any aberrant kinetochore–microtubule interactions must be resolved in the process called error correction. For resolution of the [...] Read more.
For correct chromosome segregation in mitosis, eukaryotic cells must establish chromosome biorientation where sister kinetochores attach to microtubules extending from opposite spindle poles. To establish biorientation, any aberrant kinetochore–microtubule interactions must be resolved in the process called error correction. For resolution of the aberrant interactions in error correction, kinetochore–microtubule interactions must be exchanged until biorientation is formed (the SWAP process). At initiation of biorientation, the state of weak kinetochore–microtubule interactions should be converted to the state of stable interactions (the SWITCH process)—the conundrum of this conversion is called the initiation problem of biorientation. Once biorientation is established, tension is applied on kinetochore–microtubule interactions, which stabilizes the interactions (the STABILIZE process). Aurora B kinase plays central roles in promoting error correction, and Mps1 kinase and Stu2 microtubule polymerase also play important roles. In this article, we review mechanisms of error correction by considering the SWAP, SWITCH, and STABILIZE processes. We mainly focus on mechanisms found in budding yeast, where only one microtubule attaches to a single kinetochore at biorientation, making the error correction mechanisms relatively simpler. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chromosome Segregation in Health and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop