title: Fission yeast cytoskeletons and cell polarity factors: connecting at the cortex.
abstract: Cell polarity is a fundamental property of cells from unicellular to multicellular organisms. Most of the time, it is essential so that the cells can achieve their function. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a powerful genetic model organism for studying the molecular mechanisms of the cell polarity process. Indeed, S. pombe cells are rod-shaped and cell growth is restricted at the poles. The accurate localization of the cell growth machinery at the cell cortex, which involves the actin cytoskeleton, depends on cell polarity pathways that are temporally and spatially regulated. The importance of interphase microtubules and cell polarity factors acting at the cortex of cell ends in this process has been shown. Here, we review recent advances in knowledge of molecular pathways leading to the establishment of a cellular axis in fission yeast. We also describe the role of cortical proteins and mitotic cytoskeletal rearrangements that control the symmetry of cell division.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR6061 Génétique et Développement, Université de Rennes 1, IFR140 Génétique Fonctionnelle, Agronomie et Santé, Faculté de Médecine, 2 Av. du Prof. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Carbona
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Goff
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Le Goff
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D048430:Cell Shape; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins