You are here

Metaphase to Anaphase Transition

Submitted by sditelberg on Tue, 09/11/2018 - 17:33

There are many interactions involved with the metaphase to anaphase transition in the process of mitosis. Unattached kinetochores on duplicated chromosomes send out signals in the cell that keep the molecule, MAD, bound to CDC20. MAD is bound to CDC20 until all kinetochores are attached, at which point MAD and CDC20 separate and APC and CDC20 bind instead. Another molecule, Securin, is ubiquinated by the APC/CDC20 complex. Once this occurs, Securin is destroyed and another molecule, Separase, is released. Cohesin between the replicated chromosomes is then destroyed by Separase and the chromatids separate as the cell progresses to anaphase.

This pathway can become faulty if one aspect is not functional at any given time. For example, if Securin is absent in the cell, Separase would continually destroy cohesin, leading the cell to transition to anaphase. If CDC20 releases MAD too early, a non-disjunction event may occur and the proper number of chromosomes will not be adequately distributed to each daughter cell. These defects in the pathway can lead certain cells to become cancerous.

Post:

Comments

This passage is very descriptive and accurate. The only suggestion I can make is possibly gearing your writing toward one who may not understand scientic terms as well. Avoid abbreviations or explain certain terms to allow one to better understand your piece.