Protein kinase TTK interacts and co-localizes with CENP-E to the kinetochore of human cells

Spindle checkpoint is an important biochemical signaling cascade during mitosis which monitors the fidelity of chromosome segregation, and is mediated by protein kinases Mps1 and Bub1/BubR1. Our recent studies show that kinesin-related motor protein CENP-E interacts with BubR1 and participates in spindle checkpoint signaling. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying spindle checkpoint signaling, we carried out proteomic dissection of human cell kinetochore and revealed protein kinase TTK, human homologue of yeast Mps1. Our studies show that TTK is localized to the kinetochore of human cells, and interacts with CENP-E, suggesting that TTK may play an important role in chromosome segregation during mitosis.