Model of the vertebrate mitotic centromere/kinetochore complex. Kinetochores assemble on chromatin marked by CENP-A containing nucleosomes. CENP-A nucleosome binds chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), which consists of four proteins: kinase Aurora B, INCENP, Survivin and Borealin. The kinetochore is composed mainly of CCAN (constitutive centromere-associated network) and Knl1-Mis12-Ndc80 complexes. The presence of CENP-A allows the recruitment of CCAN, which is a complex consisting of 16 centromeric proteins: CENP-C, CENP-T-W-S-X, CENP-H-I-K-M, CENP-N-L and CENP-O-P-Q-R-U. CENP-C and CENP-N bind CENP-A. The CENP-T-W-S-X complex creates a unique nucleosome-like structure that allows DNA binding in centromeric chromatin. CENP-N-L and CENP-H-I-K-M have regulatory roles. CENP-H-I-K-M-L-N help recruit CENP-C. CENP-C binds to the Mis12 complex, which then recruits Knl1 proteins interacting with microtubules and the Ndc80 complex. Ndc80 – kinetochore complex component (the complex consists of Ndc80-Nuf2-Spc24-Spc25 proteins); cenH3 – centromere specific histone 3 or histone H3 variant found at the centromere, CENP-A – centromere protein A, centromere specific histone 3 or histone H3 variant found at the centromere; CENP-C – centromere protein C; Mis 12 Complex – complex of the core kinetochore (the complex consists of Mis12-Dsn1-Nnf1-Nsl1 proteins); Knl1 – kinetochore scaffold 1; Zwint – kinetochore proteins; CCAN – constitutive centromere-associated network, CPC – chromosomal passenger complex (consisting of Borealin, Survivin, INCENP, and the Aurora B kinase), INCENP – Inner Centromere Protein; Ska Complex – spindle and kinetochore associated (the complex consists of Ska1-Ska2-Ska3 proteins).