The role of nucleation in patterning microtubule networks

Control of microtubule nucleation is important for many microtubule dependent processes in cells. Traditionally, research has focused on nucleation of microtubules from centrosomes. However, it is clear that microtubules can nucleate from non-centrosome dependent sites. In this review we discuss the consequences of non-centrosome dependent microtubule nucleation for formation of microtubule patterns, concentrating on the assembly of mitotic spindles.