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Related Concept Videos

Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle Assembly

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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.
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...
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The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint02:19

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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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The Mitotic Spindle02:27

The Mitotic Spindle

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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...
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Forces Acting on Chromosomes02:11

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

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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...
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Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

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Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated...
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Attachment of Sister Chromatids02:57

Attachment of Sister Chromatids

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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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Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
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Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets

Published on: August 13, 2016

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Mechanisms underlying spindle assembly and robustness.

Venecia A Valdez1, Lila Neahring2,3, Sabine Petry4

  • 1Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|March 28, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The cell division spindle self-organizes from numerous molecular components. Recent advances reveal how microtubule nucleation and module organization enable robust chromosome segregation.

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Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles

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Last Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
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Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • The spindle apparatus is crucial for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division.
  • Despite extensive research, the mechanisms underlying robust spindle assembly remain incompletely understood.
  • Spindle assembly involves the self-organization of hundreds of thousands of molecular components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key concepts and recent advances in understanding spindle assembly.
  • To highlight new approaches that have facilitated progress in spindle research.
  • To discuss emergent properties of the spindle that ensure faithful chromosome segregation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on spindle assembly mechanisms.
  • Focus on advances in understanding microtubule nucleation and organization.
  • Discussion of emergent properties and self-organization principles.

Main Results:

  • Detailed pathways for spatially controlled microtubule nucleation have been elucidated.
  • New insights into the organization of individual microtubules into functional modules are presented.
  • Emergent properties contributing to the spindle's robustness in chromosome segregation are discussed.

Conclusions:

  • Recent advances, enabled by new approaches, have significantly improved our understanding of spindle assembly.
  • The spatial control of microtubule nucleation and the modular organization of microtubules are critical.
  • Emergent properties of the self-organized spindle ensure robust chromosome segregation.