hrvatski jezikClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

The mitotic spindle is chiral due to torques within microtubule bundles

Novak, Maja; Polak, Bruno; Simunić, Juraj; Boban, Zvonimir; Kuzmić, Barbara; Thomae, Andreas W; Tolić, Iva Marija; Pavin, Nenad (2018) The mitotic spindle is chiral due to torques within microtubule bundles. Nature Communications, 9 . ISSN 2041-1723

[img]
Preview
PDF - Published Version - article
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Mitosis relies on forces generated in the spindle, a micro- machine composed of microtubules and associated proteins. Forces are required for the congression of chromosomes to the metaphase plate and their separation in anaphase. However, besides forces, torques may exist in the spindle, yet they have not been investigated. Here we show that the spindle is chiral. Chirality is evident from the finding that microtubule bundles in human spindles follow a left-handed helical path, which cannot be explained by forces but rather by torques. Kinesin-5 (Kif11/Eg5) inactivation abolishes spindle chirality. Our theoretical model predicts that bending and twisting moments may generate curved shapes of bundles. We found that bundles turn by about −2 deg µm−1 around the spindle axis, which we explain by a twisting moment of roughly −10 pNµm. We conclude that torques, in addition to forces, exist in the spindle and determine its chiral architecture.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: mitosis ; mitotic spindle ; microtubules ; chirality ; torque ; kinesin-5
Subjects: NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics
NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology
Divisions: Division of Molecular Biology
Depositing User: Iva Tolić
Date Deposited: 19 Oct 2018 15:21
URI: http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/4189
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06005-7

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Contrast
Increase Font
Decrease Font
Dyslexic Font
Accessibility