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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. 
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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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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.
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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.
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Reduction of cortical pulling at mitotic entry facilitates aster centration.

Anne Rosfelter1, Ghislain de Labbey2, Janet Chenevert1

  • 1Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France.

Journal of Cell Science
|March 12, 2024
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Summary

Symmetric cell division requires astral microtubule centering. In chordate zygotes, the sperm aster centers at mitotic entry due to a loss of cortical pulling, allowing cytoplasmic pulling to move the aster centrally.

Keywords:
Cell cycleMitotic apparatusNuclear migrationSperm aster

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Equal cell division depends on astral microtubule-based centering mechanisms.
  • The coordination between mitotic entry, cortical forces, and long astral microtubules for symmetric cell division remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms of sperm aster centration during mitotic entry in chordate zygotes.
  • To elucidate the interplay between cortical forces, microtubule dynamics, and cell division symmetry.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative measurements of cortical and cytoplasmic pulling forces.
  • Analysis of microtubule dynamics and cortical actin distribution.
  • Physical simulations of aster movement.

Main Results:

  • The sperm aster, despite having long astral microtubules, does not center until mitotic entry.
  • Cortical pulling forces are lost at mitotic entry, coinciding with a decrease in cortical tension and loss of cortical actin.
  • A wavelike loss of cortical pulling enables cytoplasmic pulling to drive aster centration.

Conclusions:

  • Mitotic aster centration in chordate zygotes is coordinated with mitotic entry.
  • The loss of cortical pulling at mitosis allows microtubule-based cytoplasmic pulling to center the aster, ensuring symmetric cell division.