Tension promotes kinetochore-microtubule release in response to Aurora B activity

Abstract

Aurora B kinase regulates kinetochore-microtubule interactions to ensure accurate chromosome segregation in cell division. Tension provides a signal to discriminate attachment errors from bi-oriented kinetochores with sisters correctly attached to opposite spindle poles. Current models focus on tension as an input to locally regulate Aurora B activity. Here we show that the outcome of Aurora B activity depends on tension. Using an optogenetic approach to manipulate Aurora B at individual kinetochores, we find that kinase activity promotes microtubule release when tension is high. Conversely, when tension is low, Aurora B activity promotes depolymerization of kinetochore-microtubule bundles while maintaining attachment. We propose that tension is a signal inducing distinct error-correction mechanisms, with release or depolymerization advantageous for typical errors characterized by high or low tension, respectively.