Aurora B family kinases play an essential role in chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Recent work suggests that the kinase activity is required for bipolar chromosome orientation, kinetochore assembly, spindle checkpoint and microtubule dynamics. Aurora B also has additional functions in chromosome condensation and cohesion.

Background & Aims: To evaluate how characterization of genetic alterations can help in the elucidation of liver carcinogenesis pathways, 137 tumors were analyzed. Methods: High-density allelotype, p53, Axin1, and b-catenin gene mutations were determined. Alterations were analyzed according to clinical parameters. Results: Tumors could be divided into 2 groups according to chromosome stability s...

B chromosomes are dispensable genomic elements found in different groups of animals and plants. In the present study, a whole chromosome probe was generated from a specific heterochromatic B chromosome occurring in cells of the characidae fish Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae (Steindachner, 1907). The chromosome painting probes were used in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments for ...

B chromosomes are supernumerary chromosomes which are often preferentially inherited, deviating from usual Mendelian segregation. The balance between the so-called chromosome drive and the negative effects that the presence of Bs applies on the fitness of their host determines the frequency of Bs in a particular population. Drive is the key for understanding most B chromosomes. Drive occurs in ...

Control of nondisjunction in the maize B chromosome was studied using a set of B-10 translocations. The study focused on the possible effect of the proximal region of the B long arm. The experimental procedure utilized a combination of a 10(B) chromosome from one translocation with a B(10) from another translocation. The breakpoints of the two translocations were so located that combination of ...

Aurora B kinases play important roles during mitosis in eukaryotic cells; new work in Caenorhabditis elegans has identified the Tousled kinase TLK-1 as a substrate activator of the model nematode's Aurora B kinase AIR-2 which acts to ensure proper chromosome segregation during cell division.

A child who had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) associated with an 8;14 chromosome translocation and with a pre-B phenotype is described. The leukemic cells were determined to be pre-B-cells on the basis of intracytoplasmic mu-chain immunoglobulin (cIgM+) and the common-ALL antigen, lack of receptors for sheep erythrocytes, and lack of surface immunoglobulin. The 8;14 translocation is freque...

In Buchnera aphidicola strains associated with the aphid subfamilies Thelaxinae, Lachninae, Pterocommatinae, and Aphidinae, the four leucine genes (leuA, -B, -C, and -D) are located on a plasmid. However, these genes are located on the main chromosome in B. aphidicola strains associated with the subfamilies Pemphiginae and Chaitophorinae. The sequence of the chromosomal fragment containing the ...