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Related Concept Videos

The Contractile Ring02:15

The Contractile Ring

Contractile rings are composed of microfilaments and are responsible for separating the daughter cells during cytokinesis. Contractile ring assembly proceeds along with other cell cycle events; however, very few mechanistic details are known about the timing and coordination of the contractile rings with the cell cycle.
A small GTPase, RhoA, controls the function and assembly of the contractile ring. RhoA belongs to the Ras superfamily of proteins. The activation of formins by RhoA promotes...
The Contractile Ring02:15

The Contractile Ring

Contractile rings are composed of microfilaments and are responsible for separating the daughter cells during cytokinesis. Contractile ring assembly proceeds along with other cell cycle events; however, very few mechanistic details are known about the timing and coordination of the contractile rings with the cell cycle.
A small GTPase, RhoA, controls the function and assembly of the contractile ring. RhoA belongs to the Ras superfamily of proteins. The activation of formins by RhoA promotes...
Anaphase A and B01:39

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...
Anaphase A and B01:39

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...
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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cytokinetic Events in Fission Yeast
11:19

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cytokinetic Events in Fission Yeast

Published on: February 20, 2017

Action at a distance during cytokinesis.

George von Dassow1, Koen J C Verbrugghe, Ann L Miller

  • 1Center for Cell Dynamics, Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98250, USA. dassow@uoregon.edu

The Journal of Cell Biology
|December 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Animal cells use spindle position to guide cell division. Astral microtubules are not essential for accurate cytokinesis, with asters alone capable of inducing furrows.

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Micromanipulation Techniques Allowing Analysis of Morphogenetic Dynamics and Turnover of Cytoskeletal Regulators
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Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cytokinetic Events in Fission Yeast
11:19

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cytokinetic Events in Fission Yeast

Published on: February 20, 2017

Examination of Mitotic and Meiotic Fission Yeast Nuclear Dynamics by Fluorescence Live-cell Microscopy
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Examination of Mitotic and Meiotic Fission Yeast Nuclear Dynamics by Fluorescence Live-cell Microscopy

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Micromanipulation Techniques Allowing Analysis of Morphogenetic Dynamics and Turnover of Cytoskeletal Regulators
12:52

Micromanipulation Techniques Allowing Analysis of Morphogenetic Dynamics and Turnover of Cytoskeletal Regulators

Published on: May 12, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cytokinesis

Background:

  • Accurate cell division (cytokinesis) relies on sensing the mitotic spindle's position.
  • The role of specific microtubule structures in guiding this process remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between microtubule organization and cytokinetic furrow positioning.
  • To determine the essential microtubule components for accurate cytokinesis.

Main Methods:

  • Live imaging of cell division in sea urchin and frog embryos.
  • Experimental manipulation including microtubule depletion and centrosome ablation.

Main Results:

  • Cytokinetic apparatus forms in areas of lower cortical microtubule density.
  • Cells lacking astral microtubules still undergo accurate cytokinesis.
  • Separated asters can induce furrows in anucleate cells.
  • Centrosome ablation leads to displaced or inefficient furrowing.

Conclusions:

  • Astral microtubules are not required for accurate cytokinesis.
  • Asters provide precision to a spindle-derived signal that reaches the cortex without microtubule transport.