Leaving no-one behind: How CENP-E facilitates chromosome alignment

Abstract

Chromosome alignment and biorientation is essential for mitotic progression and genomic stability. Most chromosomes align at the spindle equator in a motor-independent manner. However, a subset of polar kinetochores fail to bi-orient and require a microtubule motor-based transport mechanism to move to the cell equator. Centromere Protein E (CENP-E/KIF10) is a kinesin motor from the Kinesin-7 family, which localizes to unattached kinetochores during mitosis and utilizes plus-end directed microtubule motility to slide mono-oriented chromosomes to the spindle equator. Recent work has revealed how CENP-E cooperates with chromokinesins and dynein to mediate chromosome congression and highlighted its role at aligned chromosomes. Additionally, we have gained new mechanistic insights into the targeting and regulation of CENP-E motor activity at the kinetochore. Here, we will review the function of CENP-E in chromosome congression, the pathways that contribute to CENP-E loading at the kinetochore, and how CENP-E activity is regulated during mitosis.