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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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 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

Variations on theme: spindle assembly in diverse cells.

Patricia Wadsworth1, Wei-Lih Lee, Takashi Murata

  • 1Department of Biology, Morrill Science Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. patw@bio.umass.edu

Protoplasma
|September 11, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Spindle assembly pathways in eukaryotes, whether centrosome- or chromatin-based, are not fundamentally different. Motor-driven microtubule organization near chromosomes is the essential process for building the mitotic spindle.

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Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
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Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

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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

Published on: September 20, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 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

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
08:49

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

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

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The mitotic spindle is crucial for faithful chromosome segregation during cell division.
  • Existing models propose distinct centrosome- and chromatin-based pathways for spindle assembly across eukaryotes.
  • These pathways are typically viewed as fundamentally different mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and re-evaluate observations of mitotic spindle assembly across diverse eukaryotes (animals, fungi, plants).
  • To challenge the notion of fundamentally distinct spindle assembly pathways.
  • To propose a unifying hypothesis for the essential process of spindle assembly.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on spindle assembly in various eukaryotic organisms.
  • Comparative analysis of centrosome-dependent and chromatin-dependent spindle assembly mechanisms.
  • Synthesis of observations to identify common underlying principles.

Main Results:

  • Observations suggest microtubule assembly location (centrosomes vs. chromatin) is influenced by cell-type specific factors.
  • The distinction between centrosome- and chromatin-based pathways may not be fundamental.
  • A conserved mechanism of motor-driven microtubule organization is proposed.

Conclusions:

  • Mitotic spindle assembly mechanisms are more conserved than previously thought.
  • The essential process involves motor-driven organization of microtubules into dense bundles near chromosomes.
  • Cellular context, not distinct pathways, dictates where spindle assembly initiates.