Power-law scaling of mitotic spindles with genome sizes across eukaryotes is driven by chromosome crowding

Gudlin, Lovro; Vukušić, Kruno; Novak, Maja; Trupinić, Monika; Ljulj, Matko; Dundović, Iva; Petelinec, Ana; Petrušić, Loren; Hertel, Anna; van Ravesteyn, Thomas; Trakala, Marianna; Kops, Geert J. P. L.; Storchová, Zuzana; Tambača, Josip; Pavin, Nenad; Tolić, Iva M. (2026) Power-law scaling of mitotic spindles with genome sizes across eukaryotes is driven by chromosome crowding. Nature Cell Biology, 28 (10). pp. 1996-2007. ISSN 1465-7392

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Abstract

Genome size varies more than 10,000-fold across eukaryotes, yet how the mitotic spindle adapts to this range remains unknown. Here we show that metaphase plate width scales with genome size following a power law with an exponent of ~1/3 across eukaryotes. Comparative analysis and a physical model reveal that this scaling arises from the linear relationship between total chromosome volume and genome size, with chromosome number playing a secondary role. The same scaling holds across ploidy levels in cell lines, patient-derived cancer organoids and meiotic systems. Physical model and acute spindle compression demonstrate that chromosome crowding generates interchromosome pushing forces that set metaphase plate width. By contrast, spindle length is regulated by microtubule dynamics, cytoplasmic forces and cell size, indicating that spindle dimensions are independently controlled. The revealed scaling law provides a robust mechanism for accommodating large genomic variation and offers insight into the evolution of open mitosis and mitotic cell rounding, as well as polyploidy tolerance in tumours and during speciation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Mitosis; Mitotic spindle; Spindle scaling; Polyploidy; Genome size;
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics > Biophysics and Medical Physics NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Biochemistry and Molecular Biology NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Genetics, Evolution and Phylogenetics NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > General Biology BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE > Basic Medical Sciences > Human Genetics, Genomics and Proteomics
Divisions:	Division of Molecular Biology
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Ravnoteža sila i momenta sila u diobenom vretenu Nenad Pavin IP-2019-04-5967 HrZZ Singularna perturbacija i asimptotička analiza rubnih problema za parcijalne diferencijalne jednadžbe Eduard Marušić-Paloka IP-2022-10-1091 HrZZ Kako starost centrosoma utječe na stvaranje, popravak i segregaciju polarnih kromosoma Iva Marija Tolić IPCH-2022-10-9344 HrZZ Inovativni protokoli mikroskopije za interdisciplinarna istraživanja u biomedicini Iva Marija Tolić KK.01.1.1.04.0057 EU Impact4Math Petar Mlinarić; Filip Najman; Ana Prlić; Matija Bašić; Marko Erceg; Ivan Biočić; Marko Živković; Josip Tambača; Miljenko Huzak; Eduard Marušić-Paloka; Zvonko Iljazović; Maja Resman; Boris Širola; Matej Mihelčić UNSPECIFIED EU Mehanizmi prilagodbe diobenog vretena na različite veličine genoma Iva Marija Tolić IP-2024-05-5336 HrZZ Unaprjeđenje znanstvenih pokazatelja Geografskog odsjeka PMF-a Ivan Čanjevac IK IA 1.1.3. EU
Depositing User:	Kruno Vukušić
Date Deposited:	05 Nov 2026 15:00
URI:	https://fulir.irb.hr:/id/eprint/12194
DOI:	10.1038/s41556-026-02005-8

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