A mechanistic model of early centrosome separation during prophase

Abstract

Initial centrosome separation during prophase is crucial for faithfully completing the mammalian mitosis. Though kinesin-5 pushes the two centrosomes apart in prometaphase by sliding the inter-centrosomal anti-parallel microtubules, it is still under debate that whether kinesin-5 plays any role in the prophase centrosome separation. It is also controversial that whether dyneins separate the centrosomes by pulling the centrosomal microtubules from two opposite directions. Therefore, the active drivers involved in the early centrosome separation are still elusive. Interactions of the centrosomal microtubules with cellular objects (e.g. cortex, cell wall and nucleus) generate forces on the centrosome, thereby promotes centrosomal movements. Using an in-silico model, we show that a concerted interplay of centrosomal microtubules with cortex, cell wall and nucleus can promote centrosome separation during prophase.