Kinetocoro

Kinetocoro is a term used to refer to the kinetochore, a protein structure located at the centromere of chromosomes that mediates their attachment to spindle microtubules during cell division. In English-language literature the standard term is kinetochore; kinetocoro appears as a variant spelling found in some non-English sources or older texts and denotes the same cellular structure.

The kinetochore comprises inner and outer components assembled on centromeric chromatin containing the histone variant CENP-A. The inner kinetochore includes proteins of the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), such as CENP-C and CENP-T, which help organize the complex. The outer kinetochore features the KMN network—Knl1, Mis12, and Ndc80 complexes—that directly binds microtubule plus ends. Additional components, including the RZZ complex, connect the outer kinetochore to motor proteins and regulate microtubule interactions. Spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) proteins, such as Bub and Mad family members, monitor attachments and delays progression to anaphase until proper bi-orientation is achieved.

Functionally, the kinetochore serves as the attachment site for chromosomes to the mitotic or meiotic spindle, enabling force generation and chromosome movement as microtubules grow and shorten. It also senses mechanical tension across sister chromatids and participates in SAC signaling to ensure accurate chromosome segregation. Disruption of kinetochore function can lead to aneuploidy and has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer. Kinetochore biology is studied across diverse organisms using genetic, imaging, and biochemical approaches.