Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
During cell division, chromosomes are distributed to daughtercells by the mitotic spindle. This system requires spatial cuesto reproducibly self-organize. We report that such cues areprovided by chromosome-mediated interaction gradients betweenthe small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Ran and importin-ß.This produces activity gradients that determine the spatialdistribution of microtubule nucleation and stabilization aroundchromosomes and that are essential for the self-organizationof microtubules into a bipolar spindle.
1 Cell Biology and Biophysics Department, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), EMBL, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. 2 Max-Planck-Institut für Experimentelle Medizin, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: karsenti{at}embl-heidelberg.de (E.K.) and bastiaen{at}embl-heidelberg.de (P.B.)
The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:
In Science Magazine
PERSPECTIVES
Paul R. Clarke (26 August 2005) Science309 (5739), 1334.
[DOI: 10.1126/science.1117842] |Summary »|Full Text »|PDF »
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
XMAP215-EB1 Interaction Is Required for Proper Spindle Assembly and Chromosome Segregation in Xenopus Egg Extract.
I. Kronja, A. Kruljac-Letunic, M. Caudron-Herger, P. Bieling, and E. Karsenti (2009)
Mol. Biol. Cell
20, 2684-2696
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
MCAK and Paclitaxel Have Differential Effects on Spindle Microtubule Organization and Dynamics.
R. S. Rizk, K. P. Bohannon, L. A. Wetzel, J. Powers, S. L. Shaw, and C. E. Walczak (2009)
Mol. Biol. Cell
20, 1639-1651
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Kinesin-14 Family Proteins HSET/XCTK2 Control Spindle Length by Cross-Linking and Sliding Microtubules.
S. Cai, L. N. Weaver, S. C. Ems-McClung, and C. E. Walczak (2009)
Mol. Biol. Cell
20, 1348-1359
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Regulation of Microtubule Dynamics by Reaction Cascades Around Chromosomes.
C. A. Athale, A. Dinarina, M. Mora-Coral, C. Pugieux, F. Nedelec, and E. Karsenti (2008)
Science
322, 1243-1247
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Hepatoma Up-Regulated Protein Is Required for Chromatin-induced Microtubule Assembly Independently of TPX2.
C. M. Casanova, S. Rybina, H. Yokoyama, E. Karsenti, and I. W. Mattaj (2008)
Mol. Biol. Cell
19, 4900-4908
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Dual roles of Incenp crucial to the assembly of the acentrosomal metaphase spindle in female meiosis.
N. Colombie, C. F. Cullen, A. L. Brittle, J. K. Jang, W. C. Earnshaw, M. Carmena, K. McKim, and H. Ohkura (2008)
Development
135, 3239-3246
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
The Plant TPX2 Protein Regulates Prospindle Assembly before Nuclear Envelope Breakdown.
J. W. Vos, L. Pieuchot, J.-L. Evrard, N. Janski, M. Bergdoll, D. de Ronde, L. H. Perez, T. Sardon, I. Vernos, and A.-C. Schmit (2008)
PLANT CELL
20, 2783-2797
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Regulation of chromatin binding by a conformational switch in the tail of the Ran exchange factor RCC1.
Spatial Regulators for Bacterial Cell Division Self-Organize into Surface Waves in Vitro.
M. Loose, E. Fischer-Friedrich, J. Ries, K. Kruse, and P. Schwille (2008)
Science
320, 789-792
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Localized RanGTP Accumulation Promotes Microtubule Nucleation at Kinetochores in Somatic Mammalian Cells.
L. Torosantucci, M. De Luca, G. Guarguaglini, P. Lavia, and F. Degrassi (2008)
Mol. Biol. Cell
19, 1873-1882
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Cdk11 is a RanGTP-dependent microtubule stabilization factor that regulates spindle assembly rate.
H. Yokoyama, O. J. Gruss, S. Rybina, M. Caudron, M. Schelder, M. Wilm, I. W. Mattaj, and E. Karsenti (2008)
J. Cell Biol.
180, 867-875
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Importin-{beta} and the small guanosine triphosphatase Ran mediate chromosome loading of the human chromokinesin Kid.
K. Tahara, M. Takagi, M. Ohsugi, T. Sone, F. Nishiumi, K. Maeshima, Y. Horiuchi, N. Tokai-Nishizumi, F. Imamoto, T. Yamamoto, et al. (2008)
J. Cell Biol.
180, 493-506
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Spindle assembly in the absence of chromosomes in mouse oocytes.
A centriole- and RanGTP-independent spindle assembly pathway in meiosis I of vertebrate oocytes.
J. Dumont, S. Petri, F. Pellegrin, M.-E. Terret, M. T. Bohnsack, P. Rassinier, V. Georget, P. Kalab, O. J. Gruss, and M.-H. Verlhac (2007)
J. Cell Biol.
176, 295-305
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Phosphorylation of Maskin by Aurora-A Is Regulated by RanGTP and Importin beta.
The Nup107-160 Nucleoporin Complex Is Required for Correct Bipolar Spindle Assembly.
A. V. Orjalo, A. Arnaoutov, Z. Shen, Y. Boyarchuk, S. G. Zeitlin, B. Fontoura, S. Briggs, M. Dasso, and D. J. Forbes (2006)
Mol. Biol. Cell
17, 3806-3818
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
A picornavirus protein interacts with Ran-GTPase and disrupts nucleocytoplasmic transport.
F. W. Porter, Y. A. Bochkov, A. J. Albee, C. Wiese, and A. C. Palmenberg (2006)
PNAS
103, 12417-12422
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Contribution of microtubule growth polarity and flux to spindle assembly and functioning in plant cells..
P. Dhonukshe, N. Vischer, and T. W. J. Gadella Jr (2006)
J. Cell Sci.
119, 3193-3205
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
HURP controls spindle dynamics to promote proper interkinetochore tension and efficient kinetochore capture.
Ran Is Required before Metaphase for Spindle Assembly and Chromosome Alignment and after Metaphase for Chromosome Segregation and Spindle Midbody Organization.
