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PMID: 19906577 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Force and length in the mitotic spindle.

Current biology : CB ·Vol. 19 ·No. 17 ·2009-09-15 ·Pages R749-61

Dumont S, Mitchison TJ

Abstract

The mitotic spindle assembles to a steady-state length at metaphase through the integrated action of molecular mechanisms that generate and respond to mechanical forces. While molecular mechanisms that produce force have been described, our understanding of how they integrate with each other, and with the assembly/disassembly mechanisms that regulate length, is poor. We review current understanding of the basic architecture and dynamics of the metaphase spindle, and some of the elementary force-producing mechanisms. We then discuss models for force integration and spindle length determination. We also emphasize key missing data that notably include absolute values of forces and how they vary as a function of position within the spindle.

MeSH Terms
Biomechanical Phenomena Cell Polarity Cell Size Elasticity Friction Kinetochores/physiology,ultrastructure Metaphase Microtubules/physiology,ultrastructure Models, Biological Spindle Apparatus/physiology,ultrastructure
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Dumont Sophie
Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. sdumont@hms.harvard.edu
Mitchison Timothy J
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Article Info
Journal
Current biology : CB
Abbr.
Curr Biol
ISSN
1879-0445
DOI
10.1016/j.cub.2009.07.028
Email
sdumont@hms.harvard.edu
Published
2009-09-15
Pages
R749-61
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
9107782
PMCID
PMC2791830
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM039565 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · P50 GM068763 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM039565-22 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · P50 GM068763-070010 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM039565 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R37 GM039565 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2009.07.028 PMC Full Text View journal details
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