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Epithelial polarity and spindle orientation: intersecting pathways.

Dan T Bergstralh¹, Timm Haack, Daniel St Johnston

¹The Gurdon Institute and the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, , Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences

|September 25, 2013

Summary

Proper spindle orientation is crucial for both asymmetric stem cell division and symmetric epithelial cell division. Key proteins like Pins, Mud, and Gαi are involved, with significant overlap in mechanisms regulating spindle orientation and cell polarity.

Keywords:

epithelial polarity mitosis spindle orientation

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Asymmetric cell divisions require precise spindle orientation for unequal segregation of cell fate determinants.
Epithelial cells undergo symmetric divisions, orienting spindles perpendicular to the apical-basal axis to maintain tissue integrity.
A core complex of Pins, Mud, and Gαi is conserved in spindle orientation for both division types.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the mechanisms of mitotic spindle orientation in asymmetric and symmetric cell divisions.
To explore the overlap between spindle orientation pathways and epithelial apical-basal polarity establishment.
To examine the roles of Canoe, Bazooka, aPKC, and Discs large in both processes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on spindle orientation and cell polarity.
Analysis of conserved protein complexes involved in cell division.
Examination of genetic and molecular pathways regulating cell fate and tissue structure.

Main Results:

A conserved ternary complex (Pins, Mud, Gαi) is central to spindle orientation.
Significant mechanistic overlap exists between spindle orientation and apical-basal polarity.
Proteins like Canoe, Bazooka, aPKC, and Discs large are implicated in both phenomena.

Conclusions:

Spindle orientation mechanisms are tightly linked to cell polarity pathways.
Understanding these overlaps provides insights into cell division control in development and tissue homeostasis.
Further research into these factors will clarify spindle positioning during epithelial cell division.