B. Akiyoshi

An unconventional regulatory circuitry involving Aurora B controls anaphase onset and error-free chromosome segregation in trypanosomes

This study shows that Aurora B and KKT14 form an unconventional regulatory pathway controlling mitotic exit and chromosome segregation in trypanosomes.

Kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT14-KKT15 are divergent Bub1/BubR1-Bub3 proteins

This study identifies KKT14-KKT15 in kinetoplastids as divergent orthologs of Bub1/BubR1-Bub3, suggesting a unique mechanism for chromosome segregation fidelity in trypanosomes.

Dynamic localization of the chromosomal passenger complex is controlled by the orphan kinesins KIN-A and KIN-B in the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei

This study identifies KIN-A and KIN-B as essential components of the chromosomal passenger complex in Trypanosoma brucei, showing they mediate CPC localization to kinetochores and the central spindle through distinct domains.

Divergent polo boxes in KKT2 and KKT3 initiate the kinetochore assembly cascade in Trypanosoma brucei

This study identifies KKT2 and KKT3 as kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins that use divergent polo boxes to recruit downstream proteins, essential for kinetochore assembly in Trypanosoma brucei.

Targeted protein degradation using degradFP in Trypanosoma brucei

This paper adapts degradFP, a protein degradation system, to Trypanosoma brucei to enable targeted protein depletion, demonstrating its effectiveness on both nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins.

Repurposing of Synaptonemal Complex Proteins for Kinetochores in Kinetoplastida

The paper identifies homology between kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins and synaptonemal complex components, suggesting kinetoplastids repurposed meiotic machinery for their unique kinetochore system.

Analysis of a Mad2 homolog in Trypanosoma brucei provides possible hints on the origin of the spindle checkpoint

This study identifies TbMad2-associated proteins in Trypanosoma brucei, suggesting a potential role in basal body segregation and offering insights into the evolutionary origin of the spindle checkpoint.

Structural characterisation of KKT4, an unconventional microtubule-binding kinetochore protein

This study characterizes the structure and dynamics of KKT4, a kinetoplastid kinetochore protein, revealing its microtubule-binding domain and DNA-binding properties.

Unconventional kinetochore kinases KKT2 and KKT3 have unique centromere localization domains

This study identifies unique central domains in KKT2 and KKT3 kinases that mediate centromere localization in Trypanosoma brucei.

Unconventional kinetochore kinases KKT10/19 promote the metaphase to anaphase transition in Trypanosoma brucei

This study identifies KKT10/19 as kinetochore kinases essential for the metaphase to anaphase transition in Trypanosoma brucei, revealing their role in phosphorylation and localization regulation.

Identification of four unconventional kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT22-25 in Trypanosoma brucei

This study identifies four new kinetochore proteins, KKT22-25, in Trypanosoma brucei and shows interactions between KKIP and KKT proteins.

The unconventional kinetoplastid kinetochore protein KKT4 tracks with dynamic microtubule tips

This study identifies KKT4, a kinetoplastid kinetochore protein that binds and tracks with microtubule tips, enabling chromosome segregation despite lacking homology to known microtubule-binding domains.

Degradation of cyclin B is critical for nuclear division in Trypanosoma brucei

This study shows that CYC6 cyclin degradation controls nuclear division timing in T. brucei without a spindle checkpoint, allowing metaphase arrest without cytokinesis prevention.