CENP-F Inhibitors

The class of chemicals known as CENP-F Inhibitors encompasses a diverse group of molecules that share the functional consequence of inhibiting the activity of Centromere protein F (CENP-F), a key component involved in the regulation of mitosis and proper chromosome alignment and segregation. These inhibitors operate through various mechanisms, often targeting the regulatory pathways and protein interactions that modulate the stability, localization, and function of CENP-F within the cell cycle. Some of these compounds are known to intervene in kinase signaling pathways or disrupt the transcription factors that control the expression levels of CENP-F, thereby indirectly leading to its inhibition. By altering the kinase activity, for instance, that of Aurora A kinase, which is essential for mitotic entry and spindle assembly, these inhibitors can reduce the recruitment or activity of CENP-F at the kinetochores.

In addition to kinase inhibition, other chemicals within this class may interfere with motor proteins and microtubule dynamics, which are crucial for the proper function of CENP-F during cell division. Inhibitors like Monastrol, which targets the Eg5 kinesin motor protein, lead to defects in spindle assembly and as a consequence, can attenuate the function of CENP-F. These inhibitors may also engage with various checkpoints throughout the cell cycle, for example, by inhibiting Mps1/TTK kinase and thus affecting the spindle assembly checkpoint, possibly causing a reduction in CENP-F's role in this process