Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
12:04
Examination of Mitotic and Meiotic Fission Yeast Nuclear Dynamics by Fluorescence Live-cell Microscopy
Published on: June 24, 2019
Mitosis: shutting the door behind when you leave
R Li1
1Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. Rli@hms.harvard.edu
Current Biology : CB
|November 21, 2000
Summary
Yeast cells ensure proper chromosome segregation during mitosis using a pathway that delays cell division. This process involves a small GTPase, ensuring one spindle pole enters the bud before cytokinesis begins.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mitosis requires accurate segregation of sister chromatids.
- Cytokinesis, or cell division, must be coordinated with chromosome segregation.
- The bud neck in yeast is a critical site for cell division and monitoring segregation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the molecular pathway regulating the timing of cytokinesis in yeast.
- To understand the role of small GTPases in cell division control.
- To elucidate the mechanism ensuring spindle pole body (SPB) migration into the bud before cytokinesis.
Main Methods:
- Genetic analysis of yeast mutants.
- Live-cell imaging of mitosis and cytokinesis.
- Biochemical assays to study protein interactions.
Main Results:
- A novel pathway involving a small GTPase was identified.
- This pathway acts as a checkpoint to prevent premature cytokinesis.
- The pathway ensures that at least one spindle pole has migrated into the bud before cell separation.
Conclusions:
- The identified pathway is crucial for accurate cell division in yeast.
- Small GTPases play a key regulatory role in the cell cycle.
- This mechanism ensures genomic integrity by preventing division before proper chromosome segregation.
Related Concept Videos
02:03Mitosis and Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
01:57Meiosis II
Meiosis II is the second and final stage of meiosis. It relies on the haploid cells produced during meiosis I, each of which contain only 23 chromosomes—one from each homologous initial pair. Importantly, each chromosome in these cells is composed of two joined copies, and when these cells enter meiosis II, the goal is to separate such sister chromatids using the same microtubule-based network employed in other division processes. The result of meiosis II is two haploid cells, each containing...
02:03Mitosis and Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
02:02Meiosis II
Meiosis II entails cell division and segregation of the sister chromatids, resulting in the production of four unique haploid gametes. The steps for meiosis II are similar to mitosis, except that meiosis II occurs in haploid cells, whereas mitosis occurs in diploid cells.
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
01:35Mitosis and Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
01:35Mitosis And Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...