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Related Concept Videos

Mitosis and Cytokinesis02:03

Mitosis 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...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content02:33

Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content

Cytokinesis segregates a cell’s chromosomes and organelles into its daughter cells. Organelles divide and grow prior to cell division but cannot be synthesized de novo; therefore, cells must receive at least one copy of each organelle to survive. Currently, many of the details of how the organelles are distributed are not yet fully elucidated.
Distribution of cytoplasmic determinants
The cytoplasm contains various organelles, as well as salts, proteins, and water. The distribution of small...
Mitosis and Cytokinesis01:35

Mitosis 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...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

Centrioles and Centrosomes

Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...

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Protein localization during asymmetric cell division.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis
09:52

Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis

Published on: March 13, 2014

Asymmetric cell division during animal development.

J A Knoblich1

  • 1Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Dr Bohr Gasse 7, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. knoblich@nt.imp.univie.ac.at

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|June 20, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Some cells divide asymmetrically, unequally distributing proteins to daughter cells. This process, seen in invertebrates, may also occur in mammalian stem cells, impacting cell polarity.

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Antibody Uptake Assay for Tracking Notch/Delta Endocytosis During the Asymmetric Division of Zebrafish Radial Glia Progenitors
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Antibody Uptake Assay for Tracking Notch/Delta Endocytosis During the Asymmetric Division of Zebrafish Radial Glia Progenitors
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Most cells undergo symmetric division, producing two identical daughter cells.
  • Some cells exhibit asymmetric division, unequally distributing cellular components.
  • Asymmetric cell division is crucial for generating cell diversity and tissue development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the parallels between asymmetric cell division and epithelial cell polarity.
  • To investigate the potential role of heterotrimeric G proteins in connecting these cellular processes.
  • To assess the relevance of findings from invertebrate model organisms to mammalian stem cells.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of cell division mechanisms.
  • Investigation of protein segregation during mitosis.
  • Exploration of cell polarity establishment in epithelial cells.
  • Examination of heterotrimeric G protein function.

Main Results:

  • Asymmetric cell division involves the unequal segregation of protein determinants into daughter cells.
  • Similarities exist between asymmetric division and the polarity observed in epithelial cells.
  • Heterotrimeric G proteins may play a role in linking asymmetric division and cell polarity.
  • Asymmetrically segregating proteins have been identified in vertebrates, suggesting conserved mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Asymmetric cell division is a fundamental process with implications for cell fate determination.
  • The study highlights potential conserved mechanisms of cell polarity and division across species.
  • Findings suggest that research on invertebrate models can inform our understanding of mammalian stem cell biology.