The kinetochore-microtubule association is a core, conserved event that drives chromosome transmission during mitosis. Failure to establish this association on even a single chromosome results in aneuploidy leading to cell death or the development of cancer. However, although many chromosomes lacking centromeres, termed acentrics, fail to segregate, studies in a number of systems reveal robust alternative mechanisms that can drive segregation and successful poleward transport of acentrics. In contrast to the canonical mechanism that relies on end-on microtubule attachments to kinetochores, mechanisms of acentric transmission largely fall into three categories: direct attachments to other chromosomes, kinetochore-independent lateral attachments to microtubules, and long-range tether-based attachments. Here, we review these “non-canonical” methods of acentric chromosome transmission. Just as the discovery and exploration of cell cycle checkpoints provided insight into both the origins of cancer and new therapies, identifying mechanisms and structures specifically involved in acentric segregation may have a significant impact on basic and applied cancer research.

动粒-微管关联是一个核心的、保守的事件，在有丝分裂期间驱动染色体传递。未能在单个染色体上建立这种关联会导致非整倍体，从而导致细胞死亡或癌症的发展。然而，尽管许多缺乏着丝粒的染色体（称为无着丝粒）无法分离，但在许多系统中的研究揭示了强大的替代机制，可以推动无着丝粒的分离和成功的向极地运输。与依赖于末端微管附着于动粒的经典机制相反，无着丝粒传递的机制主要分为三类：直接附着于其他染色体、不依赖于动粒的侧向附着于微管，以及远程基于系绳的附着。这里，我们回顾了这些无着丝粒染色体传递的“非规范”方法。正如细胞周期检查点的发现和探索提供了对癌症起源和新疗法的深入了解一样，确定专门涉及无心分离的机制和结构可能会对基础和应用癌症研究产生重大影响。