| Title | Dr. Dolittle and the making of the mitotic spindle. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 1999 |
| Authors | Heck MM |
| Journal | BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pagination | 985-90 |
| Date Published | 1999 Dec |
| ISSN | 0265-9247 |
| Keywords | Animals, Cell Cycle, Kinesin, Microtubules, Mitotic Spindle Apparatus, Models, Biological |
| Abstract | The intrinsic polarity of microtubules within cells is exploited each time cells divide. Kinesins, microtubule-associated motor proteins, are required to execute the dramatic events of mitosis: bipolar spindle assembly, metaphase chromosome alignment, anaphase chromosome segregation, and separation of spindle poles prior to cytokinesis. Surprisingly, kinesin-related proteins have been found to move in either "plus-ward" or "minus-ward" directions along microtubules. Evidence from genetic analyses of simple eukaryotes and in vitro activity assays supports the notion that certain subfamilies of kinesin-related proteins provide antagonistic activities necessary to balance mitotic forces. A recent study by Sharp et al.((1)) sheds further light on the subject by exploiting the genetics and cytology of the fruit fly embryo. |
| Alternate Journal | Bioessays |
