A model for discrete spindle elongation.

Ming Yang, Yixing Wang

Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) 2011 Feb 1

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It is not understood how spindles elongate by discrete lengths of approximately 0.7 µm or multiples of 0.7 µm during anaphase B of the cell cycle. Here, we report that GTP-tubulin segments (newly synthesized segments) on microtubules have discrete lengths of approximately 0.35 µm or multiples of 0.35 µm. Because two sets of microtubules, namely anti-parallel interpolar microtubules, contribute to spindle elongation, the total lengths of the GTP-tubulin segments on their plus ends should be 0.7 µm or multiples of 0.7 µm. Microtubule synthesis in such discrete lengths is thus hypothesized to underlie the discrete lengths in spindle elongation.