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Mitotic membrane helps to focus and stabilize the mitotic spindle

Christopher C Poirier1, Yixian Zheng, Pablo A Iglesias

  • 1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Biophysical Journal
|November 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A computational model reveals how a membrane surrounding the mitotic spindle helps organize microtubules (MTs) by focusing their minus ends and resisting motor protein activity.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Microtubules (MTs) and motor proteins are crucial for forming the mitotic spindle during cell division.
  • A potential role for a membranous spindle matrix in spindle assembly is suggested but mechanistically unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential mechanisms by which a mitotic membrane influences spindle morphology.
  • To explore the physical interactions between the mitotic membrane, microtubules, and motor proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a computational model simulating the mitotic spindle apparatus.
  • Analysis of interactions between an elastic membrane, MTs, and plus-end-directed motor proteins (e.g., Eg5).

Main Results:

  • The elastic membrane aids in focusing the minus ends of microtubules.
  • The membrane provides a resistive force opposing the action of plus-end-directed MT motors.

Conclusions:

  • A surrounding membrane can contribute to mitotic spindle organization and morphology.
  • The model provides a biophysical mechanism for membrane-assisted spindle assembly.

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