Ipl1s

Ipl1s is a gene found in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It encodes a protein that is a component of the inner kinetochore, a complex structure that assembles at the centromere of chromosomes and is essential for proper chromosome segregation during cell division. The Ipl1 protein is a kinase, meaning it can add phosphate groups to other proteins, thereby regulating their activity. This kinase activity is crucial for several aspects of chromosome segregation, including the correction of merotelic attachments, a type of chromosome misattachment where a single kinetochore is attached to microtubules from both spindle poles.

The function of Ipl1s is tightly regulated and involves interactions with numerous other proteins within the kinetochore. When errors in chromosome attachment are detected, Ipl1 is activated and phosphorylates specific target proteins. This phosphorylation cascade helps to destabilize incorrect attachments and allows for their correction, ensuring that each chromosome is properly attached to the spindle microtubules before the cell divides. Mutations in the Ipl1s gene can lead to increased chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy, a condition characterized by an abnormal number of chromosomes, which can be detrimental to cell survival. Studying Ipl1s has provided significant insights into the mechanisms that maintain genome stability.