title: Using Photoactivatable GFP to Study Microtubule Dynamics and Chromosome Segregation.
abstract: Mitosis is a highly dynamic process during which the genetic material is equally distributed between two daughter cells. During mitosis, the sister chromatids of replicated chromosomes interact with dynamic microtubules and such interactions lead to stereotypical chromosome movements that eventually result in chromosome segregation and successful cell division. Approaches that allow quantification of microtubule dynamics and chromosome movements are of utmost importance for a mechanistic understanding of mitosis. In this chapter, we describe methods based on activation of photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (PA-GFP) that can be used for quantitative studies of microtubule dynamics and chromosome segregation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Biocomplexity Institute, Virginia Tech, 1015 Life Science Circle, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Biocomplexity Institute, Virginia Tech, 1015 Life Science Circle, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA. cimini@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cimini
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D008938:Mitosis; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: Chromosomes; Microtubules; Mitosis; Photoactivation; Poleward flux; Segregation