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Related Concept Videos

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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.
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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...
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In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
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Nucleus-Cytoskeleton Crosstalk During Mitotic Entry.

Margarida Dantas1,2,3, Joana T Lima1,4, Jorge G Ferreira1,4

  • 1Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde - i3S, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|April 5, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Before cells divide, they reorganize their internal structures to ensure proper chromosome segregation. While biochemical signals like Cyclin-CDK activity are known to regulate this process, recent studies suggest physical forces also play a role. This review explores how these forces and biochemical signals work together during mitotic entry. The authors synthesize findings from multiple studies to explain how physical forces and signaling pathways coordinate during the G2-M transition. They highlight the importance of both mechanical and chemical signals in ensuring efficient spindle assembly and faithful chromosome segregation. The review suggests that understanding this crosstalk may improve models of mitotic regulation.

Keywords:
centrosomechromosomecytoskeletonmechanotransductionmitosisnuclear laminanucleusmitotic entrycytoskeleton regulationnuclear reorganizationspindle assembly

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Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Molecular signaling pathways
  • Mitotic regulation in developmental biology

Background:

Cells must restructure their internal architecture before mitosis to ensure proper chromosome segregation. While biochemical pathways like Cyclin-CDK signaling are well understood, recent findings suggest physical forces may also play a role. Prior research has shown that cytoskeletal and nuclear reorganization is essential for mitotic success. However, the exact mechanisms by which these processes are coordinated remain unclear. This gap motivated further investigation into how physical forces might influence early spindle assembly. No prior work had resolved the interplay between biochemical and mechanical signals in mitotic entry. That uncertainty drove the need to synthesize existing literature on this topic. Reviewing these interactions may clarify how mitotic events are synchronized. This review aims to highlight the current understanding of physical and biochemical coordination during mitotic transition.

Purpose Of The Study:

This review seeks to clarify how physical forces and biochemical signals work together during mitotic entry. The specific problem is understanding how the cytoskeleton and nucleus coordinate during the G2-M transition. The motivation stems from recent evidence that physical forces may influence early spindle formation. The authors aim to synthesize findings from multiple studies to explain this coordination. They focus on the G2-M transition, where spindle assembly begins. Their goal is to identify how physical forces and biochemical signals interact. This approach may reveal new insights into mitotic regulation. The review emphasizes the need to integrate both mechanical and chemical perspectives.

Main Methods:

The authors conducted a literature review, synthesizing findings from multiple experimental studies. They focused on the G2-M transition and spindle assembly processes. Their approach involved analyzing how physical forces and biochemical signals interact. They examined the role of Cyclin-CDK activity in coordinating cytoskeletal and nuclear events. The review also considered evidence from recent studies on physical force involvement. They compared findings from different experimental models to identify common mechanisms. The synthesis emphasized the importance of both mechanical and chemical signals. The authors highlighted how these signals ensure efficient spindle formation.

Main Results:

The review found that physical forces and biochemical signals are both involved in mitotic entry. The strongest evidence comes from studies showing mechanical forces influence spindle assembly. These forces appear to act in concert with Cyclin-CDK signaling pathways. The G2-M transition involves coordinated cytoskeletal and nuclear reorganization. Physical forces may help position spindle components for efficient assembly. The review also showed that these forces are not independent of biochemical signals. Both types of signals are necessary for proper mitotic progression. The authors suggest that this crosstalk ensures faithful chromosome segregation.

Conclusions:

The authors conclude that both physical forces and biochemical signals are required for mitotic entry. Their synthesis suggests that these two mechanisms work together during the G2-M transition. The review highlights the importance of physical forces in early spindle assembly. They propose that these forces are not separate from biochemical pathways but are integrated. The findings suggest that physical forces may influence spindle positioning and formation. The authors emphasize the need for further research to clarify these interactions. They suggest that understanding this crosstalk may improve models of mitotic regulation. Their synthesis implies that both mechanical and chemical signals are essential for mitotic success.

The authors propose that physical forces and Cyclin-CDK signaling work together during the G2-M transition to ensure proper spindle assembly.

Cyclin-CDK activity regulates cytoskeletal and nuclear reorganization, coordinating physical forces during mitotic entry.

The G2-M transition is when cells restructure their cytoskeleton and nucleus to prepare for spindle formation and chromosome segregation.

Recent studies show that physical forces influence early spindle assembly, suggesting they are part of the regulatory process.

The review suggests that physical forces and Cyclin-CDK signaling work together to coordinate cytoskeletal and nuclear events.

The findings suggest that both mechanical and biochemical signals are essential for efficient spindle assembly and chromosome segregation.