Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
06:39
Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis
Published on: March 14, 2018
9.5K
Investigating Nuclear Envelope Assembly on Mis-Segregated Chromosomes
Shiwei Liu1,2
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 30, 2025
Summary
Researchers explore methods to study nuclear envelope assembly on micronuclei, which form from mis-segregated chromosomes. These structures are linked to cancer and genome instability, highlighting the need to understand their defective nuclear envelope formation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- During cell division, chromosomes normally segregate into daughter cells, forming new nuclei.
- Mis-segregated chromosomes can form micronuclei, which are associated with cancer and genomic instability.
- Micronuclei often have defective nuclear envelopes, leading to DNA damage and other adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe methods for examining nuclear envelope assembly on micronuclei.
- To investigate the consequences of defective nuclear envelope formation in micronuclei.
Main Methods:
- Methods for observing nuclear envelope assembly during chromosome mis-segregation.
- Techniques to analyze micronuclei formation and nuclear envelope integrity.
Main Results:
- Micronuclei formation is linked to defective nuclear envelope assembly.
- Fragile nuclear envelopes in micronuclei contribute to genome instability and adverse cellular responses.
Conclusions:
- Understanding micronuclear envelope assembly is crucial for comprehending cancer development and genome instability.
- Further research into these methods can elucidate the role of micronuclei in disease.
Related Concept Videos
02:19The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint
3.3K
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...
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...
3.3K
02:50Spindle Assembly
3.8K
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...
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...
3.8K
01:29Nondisjunction
76.2K
During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.
76.2K
01:35Disassembly of Intermediate Filaments
2.1K
Intermediate filaments (IFs) do not undergo spontaneous disassembly. Enzymes, kinases, and phosphatases add and remove phosphates from specific sites to regulate their disassembly. The IF concentration in the cytoplasm also regulates the disassembly. If the concentration crosses a threshold, it activates the protein kinases in the vicinity, allowing the phosphorylation of IFs.
Keratin proteins, found at the cell periphery near cell junctions, undergo a cycle of assembly and disassembly. In Type...
Keratin proteins, found at the cell periphery near cell junctions, undergo a cycle of assembly and disassembly. In Type...
2.1K
01:34Nuclear Protein Sorting
4.7K
Nuclear protein sorting is the selective trafficking of histones, polymerases, gene regulatory proteins into the nucleus and exporting RNAs and ribosomes to the cytosol. It is a tightly controlled process that regulates gene expression within a cell.
Proteins targeted to the nucleus carry nuclear localization signals or NLS recognized by import receptors in the cytosol. Similarly, proteins with nuclear export signals are recognized by export receptors. Import and export receptors are...
Proteins targeted to the nucleus carry nuclear localization signals or NLS recognized by import receptors in the cytosol. Similarly, proteins with nuclear export signals are recognized by export receptors. Import and export receptors are...
4.7K
02:57Attachment of Sister Chromatids
3.4K
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...
3.4K