Background
TTK also named as Mps1 or PYT, is a cell cycle regulated dual specificity kinase present in rapidly proliferating tissues and cell lines. TTK localizes to kinetochores and centromeres and is an essential component of the mitotic spindle checkpoint as well as centrosome duplication. The mitotic checkpoint inhibits entry into anaphase until all chromosomes are attached to the spindle; inhibition of this process leads to genomic instability and tumorigenesis. Phosphorylation of the BLM helicase at Ser144 by TTK maintains chromosome stability during mitosis. Small molecule inhibitors of TTK can block the spindle checkpoint response, thereby making TTK a potential therapeutic target.
Cellular location
Cytoskeleton, Nucleus, Cytoplasm