A cultured cell line appears to be having trouble surviving. You find that the cells do not appear to have normal chromosome sep
aration. You decide to check for the presence of a mutated protein. Which of the following would your best target for analyzing chromosome separation? a. Actin
b. Melanin
c. Tubulin
d. Shugoshin
Tubulin protein is polymerized to form the cylindrical structures of microtubules. Microtubules form the spindle apparatus during cell division. The spindle microtubules become attached to the kinetochores of chromosomes and mediate the alignment of chromosomes at the equator of cells during metaphase. The shortening of spindle microtubules is responsible for the movement of sister chromatids during anaphase. The same event also moves the homologous chromosomes during anaphase-I.
Any failure in the formation of the spindle apparatus would not allow the proper separation of chromosomes. Therefore, the cell with abnormal chromosome separation might have a faulty or no tubulin.
