Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

Confinement in fibrous environments positions and orients mitotic spindles

This study investigates how ECM-confinement affects mitotic spindle positioning and orientation through mechanical interactions and RF patterning.

Differential roles for the spindle assembly checkpoint in error surveillance and mitotic timing

This study investigates the role of the SAC in mitotic timing and error surveillance, finding that Mad2 is dispensable for viability in Cdc20 {Delta}FL cells and that mitotic timing depends on multiple interdependent pathways.

Tubulin isotypes contribute opposing properties to balance anaphase spindle morphogenesis

The paper shows that tubulin isotypes regulate opposing forces in yeast spindles to ensure proper elongation and length control.

Kinetic asymmetry drives kinesin-1's unidirectional and processive movement

This study investigates how kinesin-1 moves unidirectionally by comparing biased-diffusion and biased-binding mechanisms, finding that kinetic asymmetry in binding and detachment drives its processive motion.

Polo-like kinase 1 prevents excess microtubule polymerization in C. elegans oocytes to ensure faithful meiosis

This study identifies PLK-1's role in preventing excess microtubule polymerization in C. elegans oocytes to ensure accurate acentrosomal meiosis.

A biochemical mechanism for Stu2/XMAP215-family microtubule polymerases

This study establishes a quantitative biochemical mechanism for Stu2/XMAP215-family microtubule polymerases, showing they operate like enzymes with TOG domains acting as tubulin-shuttling antennas.

Motor-driven microtubule diffusion in a photobleached dynamical coordinate system

The paper investigates motor-driven microtubule network contraction and identifies a diffusive-like spread within the network, showing a conserved relationship between contraction rates and diffusion constants.

KIF2C-induced nuclear condensation concentrates PLK1 and phosphorylated BRCA2 at the kinetochore microtubules in mitosis

The paper shows KIF2C forms condensates during mitosis that concentrate PLK1 and phosphorylated BRCA2 at kinetochore microtubules, enhancing their kinase activity and attachment stability.

Canonical Hedgehog Signaling Controls Astral Microtubules and Mitotic Spindle Orientation in Neural Progenitors and iPSCs

This study shows that Hedgehog signaling regulates mitotic spindle orientation in neural progenitors and iPSCs by affecting astral microtubules and transcriptional regulation of microtubule dynamics.

CDR2 is a dynein adaptor recruited by kinectin to regulate ER sheet organization

This study identifies CDR2 as a dynein adaptor recruited by kinectin to regulate ER sheet organization and shows its role in centrosomal clustering and ER sheet stacking.

The C. elegans homolog of Sjögrens Syndrome Nuclear Antigen 1 is required for the structural integrity of the centriole and bipolar mitotic spindle assembly

This study identifies SSNA-1 as a centriole constituent required for structural integrity and bipolar spindle assembly in C. elegans.

A distinct isoform of Msp300 (Nesprin) organizes the perinuclear microtubule organizing center in adipocytes

The paper identifies two Msp300 isoforms essential for forming a perinuclear microtubule-organizing center in Drosophila adipocytes, with Msp300-PE being sufficient for its function.

Kinetochores promote timely spindle bipolarization to prevent microtubule attachment errors in oocytes

The paper shows that kinetochores promote timely spindle bipolarization in mouse oocytes to reduce microtubule attachment errors and aneuploidy risk.

Depletion of aneuploid cells is shaped by cell-to-cell interactions

The paper shows that aneuploid cells are out-competed by normal cells, and cell interactions influence their elimination during development and disease.

Cell State-Specific Cytoplasmic Material Properties Control Spindle Architecture and Scaling

The paper investigates how cytoplasmic density changes during cell differentiation and how this affects mitotic spindle architecture and scaling.

CTCF maintains pericentromere function and mitotic fidelity

This study shows that CTCF is essential for pericentromere function, mitotic fidelity, and post-mitotic nuclear shape by disrupting mitotic spindle organization and increasing intercentromere distances.

The B-type cyclin Clb4 prevents meiosis I sister centromere separation in budding yeast

The paper identifies Clb4 as a factor preventing premature sister centromere separation in meiosis I of budding yeast, with effects dependent on genetic background.

WDR2 regulates the orphan kinesin KIN-G to promote hook complex and Golgi biogenesis in Trypanosoma brucei

This study identifies WDR2 as a regulator of KIN-G, showing it is essential for hook complex and Golgi biogenesis in Trypanosoma brucei, affecting flagellum inheritance and cytokinesis.

Microtubule dynamics are defined by conformations and stability of clustered protofilaments

This study shows that microtubule dynamics depend on the conformation and stability of clustered protofilaments, linking GTP hydrolysis to polymerization states.

Force transmission through the inner kinetochore is enhanced by centromeric DNA sequences

The paper shows that centromeric DNA sequences enhance force transmission through the inner kinetochore via the Okp1/Ame1 complex.

AURKA inhibition amplifies DNA replication stress to foster WEE1 kinase dependency and synergistic antitumor effects with WEE1 inhibition in cancers

This study shows that AURKA inhibition increases DNA replication stress in TP53-mutated cancers, creating a dependency on WEE1 that can be exploited with combined AURKA and WEE1 inhibition to enhance antitumor effects.

Amino acid-level differences in alpha tubulin sequences are uniquely required for meiosis

Spindle morphology changes between meiosis and mitosis driven by CK2 regulation of the Ran pathway

The paper shows CK2 inhibition shifts spindle morphology from meiotic to mitotic-like in Ciona and Xenopus, suggesting CK2 regulates RanGTP-driven microtubule nucleation during fertilization.

KIF5B drives meiotic chromosome dynamics via interaction with the KASH5-LINC complex

This study identifies KIF5B as a key component of the force-generating machinery for meiotic chromosome movements, interacting with the KASH5-LINC complex.

Palmitoylated Importin α Regulates Mitotic Spindle Orientation Through Interaction with NuMA

This study shows that palmitoylated importin α localizes NuMA to the cell cortex, regulating mitotic spindle orientation and preventing microcephaly in Xenopus laevis.

TRIM37 employs peptide motif recognition and substrate-dependent oligomerization to prevent ectopic spindle pole assembly

This study identifies how TRIM37 prevents ectopic spindle pole formation by recognizing peptide motifs in centrobin and undergoing substrate-dependent oligomerization.

Quantitative Signatures of Disassembly Mechanisms Modulating Filament and Bundle Assembly in a Shared Pool

The paper compares monomer loss and severing as disassembly mechanisms in filament and bundle assembly, showing severing accelerates assembly and enables precise size control.

Cryo-EM visualizes multiple steps of dynein activation pathway

The paper uses cryo-EM to visualize intermediate states of dynein activation pathway by analyzing structures of dynein and dynein-Lis1 bound to ATP.

Interplay of kinetochores and catalysts drives rapid assembly of the mitotic checkpoint complex

The paper investigates how kinetochores facilitate the rapid assembly of the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) by co-orienting SAC catalysts in vitro.

A coordinated kinase and phosphatase network regulates Stu2 recruitment to yeast kinetochores

The paper shows that phosphorylation of Stu2 by Cdc5 and dephosphorylation by PP2ACdc55 regulate its localization from kinetochores to microtubules during anaphase.