Mechanisms of spindle positioning: focus on flies and worms.
Accurate spindle positioning is crucial for spatial control of cell division. During metazoan development, coordination between polarity cues and spindle position also ensures correct segregation of cell fate determinants. Converging evidence indicates that spindle positioning is achieved through interactions between cortical anchors and the plus ends of microtubules, generating pulling forces acting on spindle poles. This article discusses recent findings that indicate how this mechanism might be used for spindle positioning during Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans development.
Gönczy
Pierre
P
Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), 155 ch. des Boveresses, CH-1066 Epalinges/Lausanne, Switzerland. Pierre.Gonczy@isrec.unil.ch
D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D004175:Diptera / Q000166:cytology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009348:Nematoda / Q000166:cytology; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins