Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Attachment of Sister Chromatids02:57

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

4.1K
As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules.  Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall...
4.1K
Forces Acting on Chromosomes02:11

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

4.0K
During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis. 
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...
4.0K
Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

71.9K
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
71.9K
Meiosis II02:02

Meiosis II

50.4K
Meiosis II entails cell division and segregation of the sister chromatids, resulting in the production of four unique haploid gametes. The steps for meiosis II are similar to mitosis, except that meiosis II occurs in haploid cells, whereas mitosis occurs in diploid cells.
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
50.4K
The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint02:19

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

3.9K
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...
3.9K
Anaphase A and B01:39

Anaphase A and B

5.6K
Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...
5.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Multi-platform metabolomics reveals lipid remodeling during fruit development and aroma emergence in ripening durian (Durio zibethinus L.).

Food chemistry·2026
Same author

Functional consequences of centromeric satellite array asymmetry in female meiosis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Reciprocal constraint couples architectural protein abundance and pericentromeric satellite expansion.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Coffea arabica pulp aqueous extract exhibits the anti-colitogenic effect in mice: preventive efficacy and possible mechanisms of action.

Biological research·2026
Same author

Bioactive Metabolites from the Cultured Lichen Mycobionts of Astrothelium straminicolor and Nigrovothelium inspersotropicum.

Planta medica·2026
Same author

Integrating QSAR-Machine Learning, Biochemical Assays, and Molecular Dynamics for the Discovery of JAK2 Inhibitors in Cervical Cancer.

Journal of chemical information and modeling·2026
Same journal

Cryo-EM sheds light on the mechanism of human telomerase inhibition by BIBR1532.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Artificial metalloenzymes in complex biological environments.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Allosteric disordering of eIF2B regulates the integrated stress response.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same journal

A tail of two ligases.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Non-canonical cytochrome P450 enzymes expand the diversity of bacterial hemoproteins.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Image-guided activation of drugs with electromagnetic radiation.

Nature chemical biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development
09:32

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

Published on: June 15, 2017

9.3K

Optogenetic control of kinetochore function.

Huaiying Zhang1, Chanat Aonbangkhen2, Ekaterina V Tarasovetc1

  • 1Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Nature Chemical Biology
|August 15, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New optogenetic tools allow researchers to control kinetochore (cell division protein complex) protein activity with light. This enables precise manipulation of cell division processes, revealing insights into chromosome alignment and checkpoint signaling.

More Related Videos

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation
08:00

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation

Published on: October 4, 2024

1.1K
Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins
08:13

Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins

Published on: November 30, 2021

2.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development
09:32

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

Published on: June 15, 2017

9.3K
Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation
08:00

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation

Published on: October 4, 2024

1.1K
Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins
08:13

Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins

Published on: November 30, 2021

2.9K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Kinetochores are crucial for cell division, mediating microtubule interactions and spindle checkpoint signaling.
  • Kinetochore protein dynamics are rapid and complex, requiring advanced tools for study.
  • Existing methods lack the temporal and spatial control needed to dissect kinetochore functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop novel optogenetic tools for precise spatiotemporal control of kinetochore protein activity.
  • To investigate the roles of specific kinetochore proteins in cell division dynamics.
  • To establish a foundation for optogenetic manipulation of kinetochore function.

Main Methods:

  • Development of chemical inducers of protein dimerization activated by light.
  • Application of these dimerizers to recruit and release proteins from kinetochores.
  • Utilizing optogenetics to manipulate spindle checkpoint signaling and molecular motor activity.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated successful light-induced recruitment and release of proteins at kinetochores.
  • Showcased the ability to manipulate checkpoint signaling and motor protein function using optogenetics.
  • Identified specialized properties of the CENP-E motor in chromosome transport and metaphase alignment.

Conclusions:

  • Optogenetic control of kinetochore function is feasible and provides unprecedented experimental capabilities.
  • The developed tools offer a powerful approach to study dynamic cellular processes.
  • Findings provide new insights into the mechanics of chromosome segregation and cell cycle regulation.