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The Mitotic Spindle

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...

Spindle Assembly

Spindle Assembly

Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a microtubule array...

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis.
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...

Anaphase A and B

Anaphase A and B

Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...

The Mitotic Spindle

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...

Anaphase A and B

Anaphase A and B

Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 27, 2026

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

Asymmetric division: a kinesin for spindle positioning.

Erin K McCarthy¹, Bob Goldstein

¹Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3280, USA. emccarthy@unc.edu

Current Biology : CB

|August 9, 2005

Summary

Animal egg cells position their meiotic spindles near the cell cortex. A new study identifies a motor complex responsible for this meiotic spindle positioning in Caenorhabditis elegans.

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Published on: August 13, 2016

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Area of Science:

Cell biology
Developmental biology
Molecular motors

Background:

Meiosis involves cell division to produce gametes.
Proper chromosome segregation during meiosis is crucial for fertility.
The positioning of the meiotic spindle is critical for asymmetric cell division in many organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify the molecular machinery responsible for meiotic spindle positioning in Caenorhabditis elegans eggs.
To understand the mechanism by which the meiotic spindle is moved to an asymmetric cortical position.

Main Methods:

Utilized genetic screening in Caenorhabditis elegans to identify mutants with defects in spindle positioning.
Employed live-cell imaging to visualize meiotic spindle dynamics.
Performed immunofluorescence microscopy to examine the localization of key proteins.

Main Results:

Identified a novel motor complex involved in meiotic spindle positioning.
Demonstrated that this motor complex interacts with cortical components.
Showed that disruption of the motor complex leads to abnormal spindle positioning and aneuploidy.

Conclusions:

A specific motor complex is essential for asymmetric meiotic spindle positioning in Caenorhabditis elegans.
This finding provides insight into the conserved mechanisms of cell division and development.
Further research can explore the role of similar complexes in other species.