A cytokinetic ring-driven cell rotation achieves Hertwig's rule in early development
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Hertwig's rule states that cells divide along their longest axis, usually driven by forces acting on the mitotic spindle. Here, we show that in contrast to this rule, microtubule-based pulling forces in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos align the spindle with the short axis of the cell. We combine theory with experiments to reveal that in order to correct this misalignment, inward forces generated by the constricting cytokinetic ring rotate the entire cell until the spindle is aligned with the cell's long axis. Experiments with slightly compressed mouse zygotes indicate that this cytokinetic ring-driven mechanism of ensuring Hertwig's rule is general for cells capable of rotating inside a confining shell, a scenario that applies to early cell divisions of many systems.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | e2318838121 |
Pages (from-to) | e2318838121 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Volume | 121 |
Issue number | 25 |
Publication status | Published - 18 Jun 2024 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 38870057 |
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Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- actomyosin, biophysics, cell biology, cytokinesis, development, Zygote/metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans/embryology, Spindle Apparatus/metabolism, Embryonic Development/physiology, Rotation, Microtubules/metabolism, Animals, Models, Biological, Cytokinesis/physiology, Embryo, Nonmammalian/cytology, Mice