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Related Concept Videos

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...
Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)01:42

Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)

Microtubule function and architecture are regulated by an array of specialized proteins called microtubule-associated proteins or MAPs. These proteins are widespread across different organisms and have conserved protein motifs, like the multi-TOG domain for tubulin binding found in the CLASP family of MAPs. Some MAPs are lineage-specific based on their conserved domains. Their functions depend upon the cytoskeletal architecture and cell type they are located within. In-plant cells, a specific...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 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

Mitotic spindle form and function.

Mark Winey1, Kerry Bloom

  • 1Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.

Genetics
|April 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Budding yeast cells demonstrate minimal motor protein requirements for spindle function, surviving with just two motor proteins. This simplifies studying microtubule dynamics and motor protein roles in the spindle apparatus.

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Last Updated: May 23, 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

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles
07:47

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles

Published on: May 10, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitotic spindle, or budding yeast spindle, is a simplified model for eukaryotic spindle apparatus.
  • Microtubules are organized by the spindle pole body (yeast's centrosome equivalent) and form kinetochore and interpolar microtubules essential for chromosome segregation.
  • Cytoplasmic dynein and kinesin motor proteins regulate microtubule function during mitosis and nuclear positioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the minimal motor protein requirements for Saccharomyces cerevisiae spindle function.
  • To leverage the simplicity of the yeast spindle for dissecting microtubule and motor protein roles.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with reduced kinesin and dynein gene expression.
  • Observation of spindle structure and function under conditions of limited motor protein availability.

Main Results:

  • Yeast cells can survive with only two essential motor proteins: a bipolar kinesin (Cin8) and either a depolymerase (Kip3) or a minus-end-directed kinesin (Kar3).
  • This minimal set of motor proteins is sufficient to maintain spindle stability and cell viability.

Conclusions:

  • The Saccharomyces cerevisiae spindle machine can be functionally supported by a remarkably small number of motor proteins.
  • Yeast provides an exceptional model system for in-depth analysis of microtubule dynamics and motor protein functions within the spindle apparatus.