Mechanisms of Chromosome Positioning During Mitosis

Sigmund, Ivan; Božan, Domagoj; Šarić, Ivana; Pavin, Nenad (2024) Mechanisms of Chromosome Positioning During Mitosis. PRX Life, 2 (4). ISSN 2835-8279

PDF - Published Version - article Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

The mitotic spindle, a micromachine composed of microtubules and associated proteins, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the accurate segregation of chromosomes. During spindle assembly, initially randomly distributed chromosomes are transported toward the equatorial plate and experiments suggest that several competing mechanisms can contribute to this process of chromosome congression. However, a systematic theoretical study of forces relevant to chromosome congression is still lacking. Here we show, by introducing a physical model, that length-dependent forces generated by motor proteins transport chromosomes toward the spindle equator. Passive cross-linkers, on the other hand, can generate off-centering forces that impair chromosome congression. Our mean-field approach also reveals that stable points can exist in the vicinity of spindle poles, in addition to the one in the center, and thus provides an explanation for erroneous spindles with polar chromosomes. Taking all these processes into account, our study provides a comprehensive approach to understanding how different spindle components interact with each other and generate forces that drive chromosome congression.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	chromosome congression; mitotic spindle; motor proteins; microtubules; force balance
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics > Biophysics and Medical Physics
Divisions:	Division of Molecular Biology
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Molecular origins of aneuploidies in healthy and diseased human tissues Iva Tolić, Nenad Pavin Geert kops 855158 ERC Synergy Balance of forces and torques in the mitotic spindle Nenad Pavin IP-2019-04-5967 HRZZ IP
Depositing User:	Ivana Šarić
Date Deposited:	02 Nov 2026 12:33
URI:	https://fulir.irb.hr:/id/eprint/12183
DOI:	10.1103/PRXLife.2.043017

Actions (login required)

View Item