Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...
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...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Draft genome sequences of nine marine-derived <i>Dothideomycetes</i> strains from Sugashima, Japan.

Microbiology resource announcements·2026
Same author

Genetic switch between unicellularity and multicellularity in marine yeasts.

Nature·2026
Same author

RNAi reveals a unique set of kinesins mediating chloroplast motility in the giant cytoplasm of Bryopsis (Ulvophyceae), a coenocytic green alga.

Journal of phycology·2025
Same author

High-quality metagenome-assembled genomes of bacteria associated with long-term cultivated giant coenocytic green alga <i>Bryopsis</i>.

Microbiology resource announcements·2025
Same author

Ruegeria strains promote growth and morphogenesis of the giant coenocytic alga Bryopsis.

Journal of experimental botany·2025
Same author

Mitotic spindle membranes.

Molecular biology of the cell·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

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

Control of mitotic spindle length.

Gohta Goshima1, Jonathan M Scholey

  • 1Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan. goshima@bio.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|July 8, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Cell division relies on the mitotic spindle to segregate chromosomes. Spindle length often scales with cell size, but independent mechanisms also control its precise dimensions.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • The mitotic spindle is crucial for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division.
  • Spindle length typically scales with cell size, ensuring proper positioning of chromosomes and poles.
  • Exceptions to this scaling indicate underlying cell size-independent regulatory mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecules and mechanisms controlling mitotic spindle length.
  • To explore how these mechanisms are utilized across different biological systems.
  • To discuss quantitative models describing spindle length regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on mitotic spindle length control.
  • Analysis of molecular and mechanical factors influencing spindle dimensions.

More Related Videos

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

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis
08:33

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Published on: December 5, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

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

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

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis
08:33

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Published on: December 5, 2017

  • Examination of quantitative modeling approaches.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified key molecules and force-generating mechanisms regulating spindle length.
    • Highlighted variations in spindle length control strategies across cell types.
    • Presented insights from mathematical models of spindle length regulation.

    Conclusions:

    • Mitotic spindle length is controlled by both cell size-dependent and independent mechanisms.
    • Understanding spindle length control reveals general principles of cellular structure regulation.
    • Further research into these mechanisms can illuminate fundamental cell division processes.