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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...

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...

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...

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Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I

Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I

Published on: April 10, 2018

A shift from kinesin 5-dependent metaphase spindle function during preimplantation development in mouse.

Greg Fitzharris¹

¹University College London Institute for Women's Health, London WC1E 6BT, UK. g.fitzharris@ucl.ac.uk

Development (Cambridge, England)

|May 26, 2009

Summary

Kinesin 5 drives microtubule poleward flux in mouse eggs, crucial for spindle integrity. This requirement switches to kinesin 5-independent during early embryonic development, revealing a novel developmental regulation of spindle function.

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Published on: November 30, 2021

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Molecular Motors

Background:

Poleward flux of microtubules is vital for spindle integrity and chromosome segregation.
Kinesin 5 has been implicated in poleward flux, but its necessity varies between cell types.
Discrepancies exist regarding Kinesin 5's role in Xenopus egg extracts versus mammalian somatic cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of Kinesin 5 in poleward flux and spindle function in mouse eggs and preimplantation embryos.
To test the hypothesis that developmental differences explain Kinesin 5's varied roles in spindle dynamics.
To identify potential developmental switches in the dependence on Kinesin 5.

Main Methods:

Utilized mouse eggs and preimplantation embryos for experiments.
Examined the function of Kinesin 5 in poleward flux and spindle bipolarity.
Inhibited Kinesin 5 to observe effects on spindle dynamics and chromosome segregation.

Main Results:

Poleward flux in mouse eggs is critically dependent on Kinesin 5.
Kinesin 5 inhibition leads to spindle shortening and loss of bipolarity.
Kinesin 5 is essential for early embryonic cleavages but becomes dispensable by the blastocyst stage.

Conclusions:

Mouse egg spindle function differs significantly from cultured mammalian somatic cells regarding Kinesin 5 dependence.
A developmental switch renders spindle bipolarity Kinesin 5-independent during preimplantation development.
This study uncovers a novel mechanism regulating spindle function and chromosome segregation throughout early embryogenesis.