The DASH complex is a ~10 subunit microtubule-binding complex that is transferred to the kinetochore prior to mitosis [1]. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae DASH forms both rings and spiral structures on microtubules in vitro [2,3]. Components of the DASH complex, including Dam1, Duo1, Spc34, Dad1 and Ask1, are essential and connect the centromere to the plus end of spindle microtubules [4]. Throughout the cell cycle Dad1 remains bound to kinetochores throughout the cell cycle and its association is dependent on the Mis6 and Mal2 [5].

1: The mitotic spindle is required for loading of the DASH complex onto the kinetochore. Li Y, Bachant J, Alcasabas AA, Wang Y, Qin J, Elledge SJ; Genes Dev 2002;16:183-197. PMID:11799062

2: The yeast DASH complex forms closed rings on microtubules. Miranda JJ, De Wulf P, Sorger PK, Harrison SC; Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2005;12:138-143. PMID:15640796

3: Formation of a dynamic kinetochore- microtubule interface through assembly of the Dam1 ring complex. Westermann S, Avila-Sakar A, Wang HW, Niederstrasser H, Wong J, Drubin DG, Nogales E, Barnes G; Mol Cell. 2005;17:277-290. PMID:15664196

4: Genetic analysis of the kinetochore DASH complex reveals an antagonistic relationship with the ras/protein kinase A pathway and a novel subunit required for Ask1 association. Li JM, Li Y, Elledge SJ; Mol Cell Biol. 2005;25:767-778. PMID:15632076

5: The DASH complex and Klp5/Klp6 kinesin coordinate bipolar chromosome attachment in fission yeast. Sanchez-Perez I, Renwick SJ, Crawley K, Karig I, Buck V, Meadows JC, Franco-Sanchez A, Fleig U, Toda T, Millar JB; EMBO J. 2005;24:2931-2943. PMID:16079915