Monoclonal Antibodies: CENP-E  Topics in This Section
Antibodies against Human CENP-E  Dr. Tim Yen and colleagues at
Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified and characterized a
novel human centromere-associated protein, CENP-E, a kinesin-
like protein that localizes specifically to kinectochores where
it plays a critical role in establishing the microtubule
attachments between the chromosomes and the spindle. Functional
studies have shown that injections of CENP-E antibodies into
HeLa cells did not interfere with the progression of the cells
into mitosis, but rather, arrested the cells in mitosis as they
failed to align their chromosomes at the spindle equator. All
cells arrested in mitosis by CENP-E antibodies eventually died
by apoptosis. Thus, CENP-E is essential for the completion of
mitosis, though it is not vital for the progression of cells
into mitosis.  Additionally, CENP-E and its motor domain provide
functions that are important in maintaining stable kinetochore-
microtubule connections that allow c