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

The Mitotic Spindle02:27

The Mitotic Spindle

6.4K
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...
6.4K
Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle Assembly

3.6K
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...
3.6K
Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

Centrioles and Centrosomes

2.6K
Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or...
2.6K
Centrosome Duplication02:25

Centrosome Duplication

4.0K
The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
4.0K
Forces Acting on Chromosomes02:11

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

3.3K
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...
3.3K
Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

4.3K
Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3...
4.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Gap junctions in the alimentary tract regulate reproductive span in <i>C. elegans</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Intramedullary Gas Detected on Computed Tomography in Cases of Decompression Sickness: A Case Series.

Cureus·2026
Same author

A genetically encoded microtubule bundler for causal dissection of microtubule bundling in cells.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Ufisonitriles A and B, Antimalarial Isonitriles with Mitochondrial Function Inhibitory Activity Produced by <i>Amycolatopsis</i> sp. OK19-0009.

Journal of natural products·2025
Same author

The DNA replication machinery transmits dual signals to prevent unscheduled licensing and execution of centrosome duplication.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Construction of a New Drug and Agrochemical Candidates Screening Platform Utilizing Drug-Hypersensitive Fission Yeast to Discover Overlooked Natural Products.

Journal of natural products·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
07:14

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

8.2K

A Method for Analyzing Acentrosomal Mitotic Spindles in Human Cells.

Shotaro Okuda1, Takumi Chinen2, Daiju Kitagawa1

  • 1Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|December 1, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Some cancer cells lack centrosomes, the major microtubule organizing centers. This study details a method to generate acentrosomal cells, aiding research into centrosome-independent spindle formation in cancer.

Keywords:
Acentrosomal spindleCentrinoneCentrosomeNuMASpindle pole

More Related Videos

Evaluation of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Integrity in Mouse Oocytes
10:09

Evaluation of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Integrity in Mouse Oocytes

Published on: September 13, 2022

1.9K
Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
05:35

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

15.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations
07:14

Live Cell Imaging to Assess the Dynamics of Metaphase Timing and Cell Fate Following Mitotic Spindle Perturbations

Published on: September 20, 2019

8.2K
Evaluation of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Integrity in Mouse Oocytes
10:09

Evaluation of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Integrity in Mouse Oocytes

Published on: September 13, 2022

1.9K
Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
05:35

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

15.2K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Mitosis

Background:

  • Centrosomes are key microtubule organizing centers essential for mitotic spindle formation.
  • Aberrant centrosome numbers are common in cancer, but some cancer cells exhibit acentrosomal states.
  • Understanding acentrosomal spindle assembly is crucial for cancer biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a method for generating acentrosomal cells.
  • To describe optimal conditions for observing acentrosomal spindle formation.
  • To investigate centrosome-independent mechanisms in human cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the PLK4 inhibitor centrinone to induce acentrosomal states.
  • Established specific staining protocols for spindle pole markers.
  • Optimized microscopy settings for clear visualization of acentrosomal spindles.

Main Results:

  • Successfully generated human acentrosomal cells using centrinone.
  • Defined precise conditions and markers for observing acentrosomal spindle assembly.
  • Provided a framework for studying acentrosomal mitosis.

Conclusions:

  • The described method facilitates the study of acentrosomal spindle formation.
  • This research aids in understanding mitotic process divergence in cancer cells.
  • Further investigation into acentrosomal mechanisms can reveal novel therapeutic targets.