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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
10:52
Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
Published on: August 13, 2016
Pressure-induced depolymerization of spindle microtubules. III. Differential stability in HeLa cells
The Journal of Cell Biology
|May 1, 1976
Summary
High hydrostatic pressure reversibly inhibits cell division by depolymerizing spindle microtubules. Ultrastructural studies confirm this effect on microtubules, with some structures showing resilience.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Mitosis is a fundamental process for cell division.
- Spindle fiber microtubules are crucial for chromosome segregation during mitosis.
- Hydrostatic pressure is known to affect cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm and ultrastructurally investigate the effect of high hydrostatic pressure on spindle microtubules during mitosis.
- To examine the differential effects of pressure on various microtubule types and associated structures.
Main Methods:
- Ultrastructural studies using electron microscopy.
- Mitotic HeLa cells incubated at 37°C and pressurized at 680 atm (10,000 psi).
- Cells were fixed under pressure using a Landau-Thibodeau chamber and after pressure release.
Main Results:
- High hydrostatic pressure rapidly depolymerized most spindle microtubules, including astral and interpolar microtubules.
- Kinetochore fiber microtubules showed some resistance, while stem body and midbody microtubules remained largely unaffected.
- Upon pressure release, microtubules repolymerized but showed disorganized orientation.
- Kinetochore structure appeared diffuse and less distinct under pressure and during early recovery.
Conclusions:
- Hydrostatic pressure is a potent inhibitor of mitosis through microtubule depolymerization.
- Pressure exhibits differential effects on various spindle microtubule populations.
- Pressure-induced alterations in kinetochore structure may impact chromosome segregation accuracy.
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