G C A T T A C G G C A T genes Review Working on Genomic Stability: From the S-Phase to Mitosis Sara Ovejero 1,2,3,* , Avelino Bueno 1,4 and María P. Sacristán 1,4,* 1 Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), Universidad de Salamanca-CSIC, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
[email protected] 2 Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, University of Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France 3 Department of Biological Hematology, CHU Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France 4 Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain * Correspondence:
[email protected] (S.O.);
[email protected] (M.P.S.); Tel.: +34-923-294808 (M.P.S.) Received: 31 January 2020; Accepted: 18 February 2020; Published: 20 February 2020 Abstract: Fidelity in chromosome duplication and segregation is indispensable for maintaining genomic stability and the perpetuation of life. Challenges to genome integrity jeopardize cell survival and are at the root of different types of pathologies, such as cancer. The following three main sources of genomic instability exist: DNA damage, replicative stress, and chromosome segregation defects. In response to these challenges, eukaryotic cells have evolved control mechanisms, also known as checkpoint systems, which sense under-replicated or damaged DNA and activate specialized DNA repair machineries. Cells make use of these checkpoints throughout interphase to shield genome integrity before mitosis. Later on, when the cells enter into mitosis, the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is activated and remains active until the chromosomes are properly attached to the spindle apparatus to ensure an equal segregation among daughter cells.