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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
Published on: March 15, 2014
Microtubule-severing activity in M phase
1Dept of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-01, Japan.
Abstract:
The stable cytoplasmic microtubules that emanate from centrosomes in eukaryotic cells disappear at the onset of M phase and are replaced by the dynamic microtubules of the mitotic spindle. Microtubule-severing activity increases significantly under the control of maturation-promoting factor at the transition between G2 phase and M phase, and is thought to be involved in the microtubule reorganization. This review highlights three microtubule-severing factors that may be responsible for microtubule-severing activity in M phase.
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