title: Spindle orientation: a question of complex positioning.
abstract: The direction in which a cell divides is determined by the orientation of its mitotic spindle at metaphase. Spindle orientation is therefore important for a wide range of developmental processes, ranging from germline stem cell division to epithelial tissue homeostasis and regeneration. In multiple cell types in multiple animals, spindle orientation is controlled by a conserved biological machine that mediates a pulling force on astral microtubules. Restricting the localization of this machine to only specific regions of the cortex can thus determine how the mitotic spindle is oriented. As we review here, recent findings based on studies in tunicate, worm, fly and vertebrate cells have revealed that the mechanisms for mediating this restriction are surprisingly diverse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA dan.bergstralh@rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Dan T
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1689-3715
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bergstralh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dawney
authors.affiliation: The Gurdon Institute and the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: St Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D048430:Cell Shape; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go
keywords: Asymmetric cell division; Mitotic spindle; Spindle orientation