Dividing Animal Cells Research Articles

A novel, dynein-independent mechanism focuses the endoplasmic reticulum around spindle poles in dividing Drosophila spermatocytes

In dividing animal cells the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) concentrates around the poles of the spindle apparatus by associating with astral microtubules (MTs), and this association is essential for proper ER partitioning to progeny cells. The mechanisms that associate the ER with astral MTs are unknown. Because astral MT minus-ends are anchored by centrosomes at spindle poles, we hypothesized that the MT minus-end motor dynein mediates ER concentration around spindle poles. Live in vivo imaging of Drosophila spermatocytes revealed that dynein is required for ER concentration around centrosomes during late interphase. In marked contrast, however, dynein suppression had no effect on ER association with astral MTs and concentration around spindle poles in early M-phase. In fact, there was a sudden onset of ER association with astral MTs in dynein RNAi cells, revealing activation of an M-phase specific mechanism of ER-MT association. ER redistribution to spindle poles also did not require non-claret disjunctional (ncd), the other known Drosophila MT minus-end motor, nor Klp61F, a MT plus-end motor that generates spindle poleward forces. Collectively, our results suggest that a novel, M-phase specific mechanism of ER-MT association that is independent of MT minus-end motors is required for proper ER partitioning in dividing cells.

Autophagy in mitotic animal cells

Mitosis is a highly dynamic cellular event that involves high energy consumption and active membrane remodeling.Autophagy is a process that cells digest their cellular contents to provide energy and nutrients to maintain homeostasis.Until now,whether autophagy persists during mitosis is still debated.In most dividing animal cells,the whole cell cycle can be divided into about 20 h of interphase and 1–2 h of

Using Photobleaching to Measure Spindle Microtubule Dynamics in Primary Cultures of Dividing Drosophila Meiotic Spermatocytes.

In dividing animal cells, a microtubule (MT)-based bipolar spindle governs chromosome movement. Current models propose that the spindle facilitates and/or generates translocating forces by regionally depolymerizing the kinetochore fibers (k-fibers) that bind each chromosome. It is unclear how conserved these sites and the resultant chromosome-moving mechanisms are between different dividing cell types because of the technical challenges of quantitatively studying MTs in many specimens. In particular, our knowledge of MT kinetics during the sperm-producing male meiotic divisions remains in its infancy. In this study, I use an easy-to-implement photobleaching-based assay for measuring spindle MT dynamics in primary cultures of meiotic spermatocytes isolated from the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. By use of standard scanning confocal microscopy features, fiducial marks were photobleached on fluorescent protein (FP)-tagged MTs. These were followed by time-lapse imaging during different division stages, and their displacement rates were calculated using public domain software. I find that k-fibers continually shorten at their poles during metaphase and anaphase A through the process of MT flux. Anaphase chromosome movement is complemented by Pac-Man, the shortening of the k-fiber at its chromosomal interface. Thus, Drosophila spermatocytes share the sites of spindle dynamism and mechanisms of chromosome movement with mitotic cells. The data reveal the applicability of the photobleaching assay for measuring MT dynamics in primary cultures. This approach can be readily applied to other systems.

Cep63 and Cep152 Cooperate to Ensure Centriole Duplication

Centrosomes consist of two centrioles embedded in pericentriolar material and function as the main microtubule organising centres in dividing animal cells. They ensure proper formation and orientation of the mitotic spindle and are therefore essential for the maintenance of genome stability. Centrosome function is crucial during embryonic development, highlighted by the discovery of mutations in genes encoding centrosome or spindle pole proteins that cause autosomal recessive primary microcephaly, including Cep63 and Cep152. In this study we show that Cep63 functions to ensure that centriole duplication occurs reliably in dividing mammalian cells. We show that the interaction between Cep63 and Cep152 can occur independently of centrosome localisation and that the two proteins are dependent on one another for centrosomal localisation. Further, both mouse and human Cep63 and Cep152 cooperate to ensure efficient centriole duplication by promoting the accumulation of essential centriole duplication factors upstream of SAS-6 recruitment and procentriole formation. These observations describe the requirement for Cep63 in maintaining centriole number in dividing mammalian cells and further establish the order of events in centriole formation.

A non-canonical mode of microtubule organization operates throughout pre-implantation development in mouse

In dividing animal cells, the centrosome, comprising centrioles and surrounding pericentriolar-material (PCM), is the major interphase microtubule-organizing center (MTOC), arranging a polarized array of microtubules (MTs) that controls cellular architecture. The mouse embryo is a unique setting for investigating the role of centrosomes in MT organization, since the early embryo is acentrosomal, and centrosomes emerge de novo during early cleavages. Here we use embryos from a GFP::CETN2 transgenic mouse to observe the emergence of centrosomes and centrioles in embryos, and show that unfocused acentriolar centrosomes first form in morulae (~16–32-cell stage) and become focused at the blastocyst stage (~64–128 cells) concomitant with the emergence of centrioles. We then used high-resolution microscopy and dynamic tracking of MT growth events in live embryos to examine the impact of centrosome emergence upon interphase MT dynamics. We report that pre-implantation mouse embryos of all stages employ a non-canonical mode of MT organization that generates a complex array of randomly oriented MTs that are preferentially nucleated adjacent to nuclear and plasmalemmal membranes and cell-cell interfaces. Surprisingly, however, cells of the early embryo continue to employ this mode of interphase MT organization even after the emergence of centrosomes. Centrosomes are found at MT-sparse sites and have no detectable impact upon interphase MT dynamics. To our knowledge, the early embryo is unique among proliferating cells in adopting an acentrosomal mode of MT organization despite the presence of centrosomes, revealing that the transition to a canonical mode of interphase MT organization remains incomplete prior to implantation.

Molecular control of animal cell cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is the process by which mitotic cells physically split in two following chromosome segregation. Dividing animal cells first ingress a cytokinetic furrow and then separate the plasma membrane by abscission. The general cytological events and several conserved molecular factors involved in cytokinesis have been known for many years. However, recent progress in microscopy, chemical genetics, biochemical reconstitution and biophysical methodology has tremendously increased our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. We discuss how recent insights have led to refined models of the distinct steps of animal cell cytokinesis, including anaphase spindle reorganization, division plane specification, actomyosin ring assembly and contraction, and abscission. We highlight how molecular signalling pathways coordinate the individual events to ensure faithful partitioning of the genome to emerging daughter cells.

From Zero to Many: Control of Centriole Number in Development and Disease

Centrioles are essential for the formation of microtubule-derived structures, including cilia, flagella and centrosomes. These structures are involved in a variety of functions, from cell motility to division. In most dividing animal cells, centriole formation is coupled to the chromosome cycle. However, this is not the case in certain specialized divisions, such as meiosis, and in some differentiating cells. For example, oocytes loose their centrioles upon differentiation, whereas multiciliated epithelial cells make several of those structures after they exit the cell cycle. Aberrations of centriole number are seen in many cancer cells. Recent studies began to shed light on the molecular control of centriole number, its variations in development, and how centriole number changes in human disease. Here we review the recent developments in this field.

The SCF/Slimb Ubiquitin Ligase Limits Centrosome Amplification through Degradation of SAK/PLK4

Centrioles are essential for the formation of microtubule-derived structures, including cilia and centrosomes. Abnormalities in centrosome number and structure occur in many cancers and are associated with genomic instability. In most dividing animal cells, centriole formation is coordinated with DNA replication and is highly regulated such that only one daughter centriole forms close to each mother centriole. Centriole formation is triggered and dependent on a conserved kinase, SAK/PLK4. Downregulation and overexpression of SAK/PLK4 is associated with cancer in humans, mice, and flies. Here we show that centrosome amplification is normally inhibited by degradation of SAK/PK4 degradation, mediated by the SCF/Slimb ubiquitin ligase. This complex physically interacts with SAK/PLK4, and in its absence, SAK/PLK4 accumulates, leading to the striking formation of multiple daughter centrioles surrounding each mother. This interaction is mediated via a conserved Slimb binding motif in SAK/PLK4, mutations of which leads to centrosome amplification. This regulation is likely to be conserved, because knockout of the ortholog of Slimb, beta-Trcp1 in mice, also leads to centrosome amplification. Because the SCF/beta-Trcp complex plays an important role in cell-cycle progression, our results lead to new understanding of the control of centrosome number and how it may go awry in human disease.

Parallels Between Cytokinesis and Retroviral Budding: A Role for the ESCRT Machinery

During cytokinesis, as dividing animal cells pull apart into two daughter cells, the final stage, termed abscission, requires breakage of the midbody, a thin membranous stalk connecting the daughter cells. This membrane fission event topologically resembles the budding of viruses, such as HIV-1, from infected cells. We found that two proteins involved in HIV-1 budding-tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101), a subunit of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport I (ESCRT-I), and Alix, an ESCRT-associated protein-were recruited to the midbody during cytokinesis by interaction with centrosome protein 55 (Cep55), a centrosome and midbody protein essential for abscission. Tsg101, Alix, and possibly other components of ESCRT-I were required for the completion of cytokinesis. Thus, HIV-1 budding and cytokinesis use a similar subset of cellular components to carry out topologically similar membrane fission events.

Molecular Model of the Contractile Ring

We present a model for the actin contractile ring of adherent animal cells. The model suggests that the actin concentration within the ring and consequently the power that the ring exerts both increase during contraction. We demonstrate the crucial role of actin polymerization and depolymerization throughout cytokinesis, and the dominance of viscous dissipation in the dynamics. The physical origin of two phases in cytokinesis dynamics ("biphasic cytokinesis") follows from a limitation on the actin density. The model is consistent with a wide range of measurements of the midzone of dividing animal cells.

Regulation of cell cycle by the anaphase spindle midzone

BackgroundA number of proteins accumulate in the spindle midzone and midbody of dividing animal cells. Besides proteins essential for cytokinesis, there are also components essential for interphase functions, suggesting that the spindle midzone and/or midbody may play a role in regulating the following cell cycle.ResultsWe microsurgically severed NRK epithelial cells during anaphase or telophase, such that the spindle midzone/midbody was associated with only one of the daughter cells. Time-lapse recording of cells severed during early anaphase indicated that the cell with midzone underwent cytokinesis-like cortical contractions and progressed normally through the interphase, whereas the cell without midzone showed no cortical contraction and an arrest or substantial delay in the progression of interphase. Similar microsurgery during telophase showed a normal progression of interphase for both daughter cells with or without the midbody. Microsurgery of anaphase cells treated with cytochalasin D or nocodazole indicated that interphase progression was independent of cortical ingression but dependent on microtubules.ConclusionsWe conclude that the mitotic spindle is involved in not only the separation of chromosomes but also the regulation of cell cycle. The process may involve activation of components in the spindle midzone that are required for the cell cycle, and/or degradation of components that are required for cytokinesis but may interfere with the cell cycle.

Mechanism of the formation of contractile ring in dividing cultured animal cells. II. Cortical movement of microinjected actin filaments.

The contractile ring in dividing animal cells is formed primarily through the reorganization of existing actin filaments (Cao, L.-G., and Y.-L. Wang. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:1089-1096), but it is not clear whether the process involves a random recruitment of diffusible actin filaments from the cytoplasm, or a directional movement of cortically associated filaments toward the equator. We have studied this question by observing the distribution of actin filaments that have been labeled with fluorescent phalloidin and microinjected into dividing normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. The labeled filaments are present primarily in the cytoplasm during prometaphase and early metaphase, but become associated extensively with the cell cortex 10-15 min before the onset of anaphase. This process is manifested both as an increase in cortical fluorescence intensity and as movements of discrete aggregates of actin filaments toward the cortex. The concentration of actin fluorescence in the equatorial region, accompanied by a decrease of fluorescence in polar regions, is detected 2-3 min after the onset of anaphase. By directly tracing the distribution of aggregates of labeled actin filaments, we are able to detect, during anaphase and telophase, movements of cortical actin filaments toward the equator at an average rate of 1.0 micron/min. Our results, combined with previous observations, suggest that the organization of actin filaments during cytokinesis probably involves an association of cytoplasmic filaments with the cortex, a movement of cortical filaments toward the cleavage furrow, and a dissociation of filaments from the equatorial cortex.

Localization of late replicating DNA and nuclear membrane

We investigated whether the specific localization of DNA replicator sites at the nuclear membrane at the end of the S phase, found in dividing animal cells and in the plantHaplopappus gracilis, applied also to other plants. We found that nuclei labelled at the nuclear periphery were observed in plants where the chromocenters are localized at the nuclear membrane. In other plants, where the chromocenters are scattered throughout the nucleus, a different pattern of labelling is observed where the silver grains are restricted to a number of distinct sites, distributed in a fashion similar to that of the chromocenters. We believe that these nuclei were replicating the chromocentric heterochromatin and so were therefore at the end of the S phase. The specific patterns of the distribution of DNA replicator sites at the end of the S phase make it possible to distinguish nuclei which are in the late S phase and thus define a specific stage of the S phase, during which only heterochromatin replication occurs.

Establishment of cleavage furrows by the mitotic spindle.

AbstractThe purpose of this investigation was to determine the capacity for furrow establishment of the mitotic spindle in several kinds of dividing animal cells. To this end the cell shape was altered so that equatorial surface was brought in contact with the spindle and its normal geometrical relation with the asters changed. In flattened Tripneustes gratilla eggs, furrows formed at the tips of deeply cut notches that impinged upon the spindle area. In Echinarachnius parma eggs, furrows formed at the tips of deeply cut notches and also at the margins of perforations that straddled the spindle. The distance separating the perforations was less than the normal spindle diameter. In flattened, dividing cultured newt (Diemictylus viridescens) kidney cells furrows formed in equatorial surface that was pushed inward far enough to displace the metaphase chromosomes. These results appear to indicate that the mitotic spindle of animal cells can establish furrows. We speculate that the actual role played by the spindle in normal cytokinesis depends upon the relative sizes of the asters and the spindle and upon the normal distance between the spindle and the equatorial surface.

Actin in Dividing Cells: Contractile Ring Filaments Bind Heavy Meromyosin

Many microfilaments and microtubules are well preserved after glycerol-extraction of HeLa cells at room temperature (22 degrees ). Incubation in heavy meromyosin from rabbit skeletal muscle results in conspicuous and characteristic "decoration" of microfilaments of the contractile ring. Decoration is completely prevented by 10 mM ATP or 2 mM pyrophosphate, and fails to occur if heavy meromyosin is either omitted or replaced by egg albumin, a nonspecific protein. Decorated microfilaments have a substructure consisting of polarized, repeating arrowheads 27-35 nm apart. The specificity of these results strongly suggests that microfilaments of the contractile ring in HeLa cells are closely related to muscle actin. Very thin undecorated strands among the microfilaments of the contractile ring possibly represent a myosin component. These findings are discussed in terms of: the actomyosin-like properties of the contractile ring as a mechanochemical organelle that causes cell cleavage; the probable universal occurrence of actin-like protein in all dividing animal cells; and the contractile ring's combined sensitivity to cytochalasin B and its affinity for heavy meromyosin, a combination unique among microfilamentous organelles.

Cytokinesis in Animal Cells

This chapter discusses the processes that accomplish cytoplasmic division in animal cells. Recognition of the importance of cytokinesis came with the acceptance of the cell theory, and early attention was focused upon identification of the physical mechanism and determination of the role of visible cell parts. The results of experimentation, biophysical analysis, and ultrastructural study of mitotically dividing animal cells support the concept of a common basic mechanism. The mitotic apparatus normally establishes the division mechanism, but pairs of cytasters, sperm asters, and asters detached from the spindle can induce furrows in eggs. Moreover, furrow establishment depends upon a specific geometrical relationship between the mitotic apparatus and the equator. No special geometrical relationship between the mitotic apparatus and the poles is required. The circumstances of furrow establishment and the properties and behavior of the furrow region indicate that the difference arises by an increase in equatorial tension rather than by polar relaxation. Data from direct analysis of the biophysical properties of the furrow surface are meager. There is no clear understanding of the way in which any of the ultrastructural elements, thus far described, contribute to the observable events in living, dividing cells.