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Related Concept Videos

Spindle Assembly02:50

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...
Spindle Assembly02:50

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...
The Mitotic Spindle02:27

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...
The Mitotic Spindle02:27

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...
Forces Acting on Chromosomes02:11

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...
The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint02:19

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
10:52

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

Spindle assembly: kinesin-5 is in control.

Linda Amos1

  • 1MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK. laa@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk

Current Biology : CB
|December 26, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Kinesin-5 motor proteins are crucial for forming bipolar spindles in many species. New research reveals unique tail domain properties that explain how kinesin-5 (Kinesin Family member 5) organizes these essential cellular structures.

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Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-5
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Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
10:52

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells
10:46

Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells

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Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-5
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Published on: January 20, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Motors
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Background:

  • Kinesin-5 motor proteins are vital for establishing the bipolar spindle apparatus necessary for cell division in numerous organisms.
  • While kinesin-5 tetramers are known to bridge microtubules, the precise mechanism of spindle organization remained incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism by which kinesin-5 motor proteins contribute to the assembly and organization of the bipolar spindle.
  • To investigate the role of kinesin-5's unique properties, particularly those of its tail domain, in spindle formation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced microscopy techniques to observe kinesin-5 behavior in real-time.
  • Performed biochemical assays to characterize the functional properties of the kinesin-5 tail domain.
  • Conducted genetic manipulation studies to assess the impact of kinesin-5 mutations on spindle assembly.

Main Results:

  • Identified novel properties of kinesin-5, distinct from previously understood functions.
  • Demonstrated that specific features of the kinesin-5 tail domain are critical for its role in crosslinking and organizing microtubules.
  • Observed that these properties directly influence the formation of a stable bipolar spindle structure.

Conclusions:

  • The unique properties of kinesin-5, especially within its tail domain, are key to its function in bipolar spindle assembly.
  • These findings provide significant insights into the molecular mechanisms governing spindle organization and cell division.
  • Kinesin-5's mechanism of action offers a potential target for understanding and manipulating cell division processes.