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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
10:52
Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
Published on: August 13, 2016
Cdc42 controls spindle orientation to position the apical surface during epithelial morphogenesis.
Aron B Jaffe1, Noriko Kaji, Joanne Durgan
1Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|November 13, 2008
Summary
Cdc42 controls how cells divide to form organized epithelial tissues. It ensures the apical surface faces the correct direction during tissue growth, maintaining tissue structure.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Epithelial Biology
Background:
- Apical-basal polarity is crucial for epithelial tissue formation and function.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing this process is essential for developmental biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Cdc42 in establishing and maintaining apical-basal polarity during epithelial morphogenesis.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which cell division contributes to tissue organization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cell line cultured in a 3D matrix to form cyst-like structures.
- Observed the establishment and maintenance of apical domains during cell division.
- Investigated the effect of Cdc42 depletion on spindle orientation and apical surface positioning.
Main Results:
- Apical domains form early in cell division and are maintained in the central lumen of the cyst.
- Mitotic spindle orientation and asymmetric abscission are key for correct apical domain positioning.
- Cdc42 depletion disrupts spindle orientation, leading to mispositioned apical surfaces, but does not prevent initial polarity establishment.
Conclusions:
- Cdc42 plays a critical role in epithelial tissue morphogenesis by regulating mitotic spindle orientation.
- Proper spindle orientation during cell division is essential for maintaining apical-basal polarity in developing epithelial tissues.
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