Chapter 14 - Mitosis and Cytokinesis

Abstract

Studies of cell division in Chlamydomonas basically employ two types of approaches, often, in combination: microscopy and genetics. In this chapter, the authors survey the existing literature on Chlamydomonas cell division, with a focus on the mechanisms of mitosis and cytokinesis. The reader will notice that the powerful genomic and genetic approaches now available, combined with the relatively primitive state of our current knowledge, means that there is a wealth of opportunities for future study in this area. We consider the details of mitosis and cytokinesis that lead to the generation of a new set of daughter cells. Chlamydomonas promises to play a unique role in our future understanding of cell division. Chlamydomonas provides many of the same genetic advantages as budding yeast for studying basic cell biology, but in Chlamydomonas, the processes of mitosis and cytokinesis are far more similar to those seen in animal cells than are the corresponding processes in yeast. In particular, Chlamydomonas allows us to take a yeast-like forward genetic approach to understanding the roles of centrioles in mitosis, the connection between flagellar resorption and cell division, and the interplay of actin and microtubules during cytokinesis.