Fig. 3

Mechanism of cell slippage during mitotic arrest. a Rapid degradation of Cyclin B1 and slow induction of pro-apoptotic signals (or slow degradation of pro-survival proteins) during mitotic arrest caused by mitotic poisons or Aurora B inhibition can lead to slippage [56]. During the mitotic slippage, APC/CCDC20 degrades Cyclin B1 but not securin. The reduction of Cyclin B1 level below mitotic exit threshold induced mitotic exit without cell division. b Graphic representation of the timing of reduction of Cyclin B1 level and the increment of pro-apoptotic signals in the contest of mitotic slippage. In the presence of active MPF complex, the rapid degradation of Cyclin B1 level below the mitotic exit threshold induces mitotic slippage during prolonged mitosis