Determinants of Polar versus Nematic Organization in Networks of Dynamic Microtubules and Mitotic Motors.

ABSTRACT: During cell division, mitotic motors organize microtubules in the bipolar spindle into either polar arrays at the spindle poles or a "nematic" network of aligned microtubules at the spindle center. The reasons for the distinct self-organizing capacities of dynamic microtubules and different motors are not understood. Using in vitro reconstitution experiments and computer simulations, we show that the human mitotic motors kinesin-5 KIF11 and kinesin-14 HSET, despite opposite directionalities, can both organize dynamic microtubules into either polar or nematic networks. We show that in addition to the motor properties the natural asymmetry between microtubule plus- and minus-end growth critically contributes to the organizational potential of the motors. We identify two control parameters th

SUBMITTER: Roostalu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6198040 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature