Anaphase B spindle elongation plays an important role in chromosome segregation. In the present paper, we discuss our model for anaphase B in Drosophila syncytial embryos, in which spindle elongation depends on an ip (interpolar) MT (microtubule) sliding filament mechanism generated by homotetrameric kinesin-5 motors acting in concert with poleward ipMT flux, which acts as an ‘on/off’ switch. Specifically, the pre-anaphase B spindle is maintained at a steady-state length by the balance between ipMT sliding and ipMT depolymerization at spindle poles, producing poleward flux. Cyclin B degradation at anaphase B onset triggers: (i) an MT catastrophe gradient causing ipMT plus ends to invade the overlap zone where ipMT sliding forces are generated; and (ii) the inhibition of ipMT minus-end depolymerization so flux is turned ‘off’, tipping the balance of forces to allow outward ipMT sliding to push apart the spindle poles. We briefly comment on the relationship of this model to anaphase B in other systems.
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Conference Article|
September 21 2011
Mitotic motors and chromosome segregation: the mechanism of anaphase B
Ingrid Brust-Mascher;
Ingrid Brust-Mascher
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A.
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Jonathan M. Scholey
Jonathan M. Scholey
1
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email jmscholey@ucdavis.edu).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 25 2011
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Biochem Soc Trans (2011) 39 (5): 1149–1153.
Article history
Received:
April 25 2011
Citation
Ingrid Brust-Mascher, Jonathan M. Scholey; Mitotic motors and chromosome segregation: the mechanism of anaphase B. Biochem Soc Trans 1 October 2011; 39 (5): 1149–1153. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0391149
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