Attachment of the spindles to the kinetochores is one of the most important processes for equal segregation of chromosomes. The kinetochore, a key player of this process, can be found only at a fix position per chromosome. We are interested in positioning of the kinetochore and study the underlying mechanisms. CENP-A, a variant of histone H3, can be found specifically at centromeric chromatin, on which the kinetochore is assembled in mitosis. As it is generally believed that CENP-A determines the “centromere identity”, positioning of the kinetochore relies on proper distribution of CENP-A at chromatin. With the expectation that mechanisms to remove excess CENP-A from chromatin play a key role in maintenance of distribution of CENP-A, our study with fission yeast to characterize several mutants, which are prone to promiscuous accumulation of CENP-A, is in progress.
The spindle checkpoint delays the onset of anaphase until the spindles are attached properly to the kinetochores. We study molecular events in mitosis that are necessary to satisfy this checkpoint.

• Chromosome segregation
• Kinetochore
• Spindle checkpoint