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Spindle Assembly

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 Assembly

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 Mitotic Spindle

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 Spindle

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...

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

Spindle assembly: more than just microtubules.

Gregory C Rogers¹

¹Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. grogers@azcc.arizona.edu

Current Biology : CB

|July 14, 2011

Summary

Cortical actin polymerization actively aids mitotic spindle assembly by assisting early spindle pole migration during cell division. This finding highlights actin

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Cytoskeleton Dynamics
Mitosis Research

Background:

Mitotic spindle assembly is crucial for accurate chromosome segregation.
The precise mechanisms governing spindle pole migration are not fully understood.
The role of the actin cytoskeleton in mitosis remains an area of active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the potential role of actin dynamics in mitotic spindle assembly.
To determine if cortical actin polymerization influences spindle pole migration.

Main Methods:

Live-cell imaging of fluorescently tagged actin and spindle components.
Perturbation of actin polymerization using pharmacological inhibitors.
Quantitative analysis of spindle pole movement and dynamics.

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Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles

Published on: May 10, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids

Published on: June 23, 2022

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles

Published on: May 10, 2022

Main Results:

Cortical actin polymerization was observed during the early stages of spindle pole migration.
Inhibition of actin polymerization led to defects in the speed and directionality of spindle pole migration.
Actin patches localized to the cell cortex were found to be critical for initiating spindle pole movement.

Conclusions:

Actin dynamics play an active and essential role in the initial phase of mitotic spindle assembly.
Cortical actin polymerization provides a crucial force or guidance mechanism for spindle pole migration.
These findings reveal a novel contribution of the actin cytoskeleton to cell division processes.