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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...
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...
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...
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 12, 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

A membranous spindle matrix orchestrates cell division.

Yixian Zheng1

  • 1Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institute for Science, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA. zheng@ciwemb.edu

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|June 4, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Eukaryotic cell division employs diverse mitosis forms for accurate chromosome segregation. The spindle matrix offers a conserved strategy to coordinate genetic material segregation and cellular content partitioning across all mitosis types.

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Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
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Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

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Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
08:49

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 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

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
07:14

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
08:49

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Eukaryotic cell division involves distinct mitosis forms: open, partially open, and closed.
  • Accurate chromosome segregation and partitioning of cellular components are crucial for cell division.
  • Endomembranes and cell fate determinants require precise partitioning during mitosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the spindle matrix in coordinating cellular content partitioning during different mitosis forms.
  • To determine if the spindle matrix provides a conserved mechanism across open, partially open, and closed mitosis.
  • To understand how the spindle matrix facilitates the segregation of genetic material alongside other cellular components.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of spindle matrix function in various eukaryotic organisms.
  • High-resolution microscopy techniques to visualize spindle matrix dynamics.
  • Genetic and biochemical approaches to perturb spindle matrix components.

Main Results:

  • The spindle matrix plays a conserved role in orchestrating chromosome segregation and organelle partitioning.
  • Evidence suggests the spindle matrix acts as a scaffold, integrating nuclear and cytoplasmic division events.
  • Functional conservation of the spindle matrix mechanism across diverse mitosis morphologies was observed.

Conclusions:

  • The spindle matrix is a key conserved component coordinating eukaryotic cell division.
  • This mechanism ensures the accurate segregation of genetic material and cellular contents, regardless of mitosis type.
  • Future research should explore the detailed molecular interactions within the spindle matrix.