Emerging Roles for Transcription Factors During Mitosis

The genome is dynamically reorganized, partitioned, and divided during mitosis. Despite their role in organizing interphase chromatin, transcription factors were largely believed to be mitotic spectators evicted from chromatin during mitosis, only able to reestablish their position on DNA upon entry into G1. However, a panoply of evidence now contradicts this early belief. Numerous transcription factors are now known to remain active during mitosis to achieve diverse purposes, including chromosome condensation, regulation of the centromere/kinetochore function, and control of centrosome homeostasis. Inactivation of transcription factors during mitosis results in chromosome segregation errors, key features of cancer. Moreover, active transcription and the production of centromere-derived transcripts during mitosis are also known to play key roles in maintaining chromosomal stability. Finally, many transcription factors are associated with chromosomal instability through poorly defined mechanisms. Herein, we will review the emerging roles of transcription factors and transcription during mitosis with a focus on their role in promoting the faithful segregation of sister chromatids.