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Chemical tools for dissecting cell division

Nature Chemical Biology volume 17, pages 632–640 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Components of the cell division machinery typically function at varying cell cycle stages and intracellular locations. To dissect cellular mechanisms during the rapid division process, small-molecule probes act as complementary approaches to genetic manipulations, with advantages of temporal and in some cases spatial control and applicability to multiple model systems. This Review focuses on recent advances in chemical probes and applications to address select questions in cell division. We discuss uses of both enzyme inhibitors and chemical inducers of dimerization, as well as emerging techniques to promote future investigations. Overall, these concepts may open new research directions for applying chemical probes to advance cell biology.

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Fig. 1: Chemically induced dimerization recruits effector proteins to anchors.
Fig. 2: Centrinone inhibits PLK4 activity.
Fig. 3: Kinesin motors on spindle microtubules.
Fig. 4: Aurora kinases regulate kinetochore–microtubule interactions.
Fig. 5: Activating and silencing the SAC.
Fig. 6: Prospective strategies for modulating enzymatic activities.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank D. Dudka for commenting on this article. This article was supported by the National Institutes of Health (GM-122475), National Cancer Institute (U54-CA193417), the Emerson Collective Cancer Research Fund and the Penn Center for Genome Integrity.

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    Geng-Yuan Chen & Michael A. Lampson

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Chen, GY., Lampson, M.A. Chemical tools for dissecting cell division. Nat Chem Biol 17, 632–640 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00798-3

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