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 Experiment Videos

Forces on chromosomal DNA during anaphase

G Jannink1, B Duplantier, J L Sikorav

  • 1Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (CEA-CNRS), Departement de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, CEA/Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.

Biophysical Journal
|July 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

During anaphase, the spindle pulls on intertwined DNA. Type II DNA topoisomerases and spindle forces resolve these tangles, ensuring safe chromosome segregation and preventing errors like nondisjunction.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Application of the Sherman-Morisson formula to scattering problems by multi-component systems.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2004
Same author

Cyclization of globular DNA. Implications for DNA-DNA interactions in vivo.

Biochemistry·1999
Same author

DNA crossovers and type II DNA topoisomerases: A thermodynamical study.

Journal of molecular biology·1999
Same author

Symmetry and chirality in topoisomerase II-DNA crossover recognition.

Journal of molecular biology·1999
Same author

Accelerated cyclization of lambda DNA.

Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences. Serie III, Sciences de la vie·1998
Same author

Precipitation of DNA by polyamines: a polyelectrolyte behavior.

Biophysical journal·1998

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • During anaphase, chromosomes are subjected to mechanical forces by the spindle apparatus.
  • Sister chromatids are often topologically intertwined at the start of anaphase, requiring resolution for proper segregation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a physical analysis of DNA mechanics during anaphase.
  • To investigate the roles of spindle forces and type II DNA topoisomerases in resolving DNA entanglements.
  • To model chromosome behavior in the absence of topoisomerase activity.

Main Methods:

  • Comparison of spindle force with DNA breakage force.
  • Development of physical models for sister chromatid behavior (chain pullout, mechanical rupture of rubbers).
  • Application of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem to model protein friction from topoisomerase activity.

Main Results:

  • Defined conditions for biological safety during anaphase based on force comparisons.
  • Demonstrated that chain pullout and rubber rupture models explain chromatid behavior without topoisomerases.
  • Introduced an effective protein friction concept for topoisomerase strand-passing activity.

Conclusions:

  • Spindle forces and type II DNA topoisomerases work together to disentangle DNA during anaphase.
  • Physical models can accurately describe chromosome mechanics and potential errors in segregation.
  • Theoretical analyses provide a framework for experimental validation of DNA resolution mechanisms.

Related Experiment Videos