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Related Concept Videos

Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Mitosis and Cytokinesis01:35

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
Mitosis and Cytokinesis02:03

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
Mitosis And Cytokinesis01:35

Mitosis And Cytokinesis

In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...
Mitosis and Cytokinesis02:03

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...

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Mammalian Cell Division in 3D Matrices via Quantitative Confocal Reflection Microscopy
10:22

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Published on: November 29, 2017

Cell division: experiments and modelling unite to resolve the middle.

Martin Howard1

  • 1Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. martin.howard@bbsrc.ac.uk

Current Biology : CB
|January 29, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Cells find their middle using stable and dynamic microtubules. Quantitative modeling revealed new insights into how this process guides cell division and furrow positioning.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cytoskeletal Dynamics
  • Quantitative Biology

Background:

  • Understanding how cells determine their geometric center is crucial for accurate cell division.
  • Microtubules, key components of the cytoskeleton, play a role in cellular organization and division.
  • Previous research suggested a role for microtubule stability and dynamics in cell shape determination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms by which cells identify their central axis for division.
  • To explore the combined roles of stable and dynamic microtubules in furrow positioning.
  • To utilize quantitative modeling to refine hypotheses on microtubule-mediated cell central axis determination.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental manipulation of microtubule stability and dynamics.
  • Live-cell imaging to observe cellular behavior during division.
  • Development and application of quantitative computational models.

Main Results:

  • Confirmation that activating stable microtubules alongside inhibitory dynamic microtubules are essential for cell centering.
  • Quantitative modeling provided refined insights into the spatial regulation of microtubule activity.
  • Demonstrated a direct link between microtubule behavior and the precise positioning of the cleavage furrow.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between stable and dynamic microtubules is a fundamental mechanism for cell central axis determination.
  • Quantitative modeling significantly enhances our understanding of cytoskeletal regulation during cell division.
  • These findings offer new perspectives on the biophysical principles governing cell shape and division.