The (theoretical) yin and yang of spindle mechanics.
Antiparallel overlap of microtubules is central to the morphogenesis of bipolar mitotic spindles. How does this overlap arise, and how is it maintained? A recent theoretical study uses computer simulations to investigate whether motor protein complexes can achieve this task. The "virtual" results reveal that a mixed polarity motor complex is needed to do the job.
Desai
Arshad
A
Max Planck Institute of Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D008941:Spindle Apparatus; D014981:Xenopus
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins