Polar actomyosin contractility destabilizes the position of the cytokinetic furrow

Cytokinesis, the physical separation of daughter cells at the end of mitosis, requires precise regulation of the mechanical properties of the cell periphery. Although studies of cytokinetic mechanics mostly focus on the equatorial constriction ring, a contractile actomyosin cortex is also present at the poles of dividing cells. Whether polar forces influence cytokinetic cell shape and furrow positioning remains an open question. Here we demonstrate that the polar cortex makes cytokinesis inherently unstable. We show that limited asymmetric polar contractions occur during cytokinesis, and that perturbing the polar cortex leads to cell shape oscillations, resulting in furrow displacement and aneuploidy. A theoretical model based on a competition between cortex turnover and contraction dynamics accurately accounts for the oscillations. We further propose that membrane blebs, which commonly form at the poles of dividing cells and whose role in cytokinesis has long been enigmatic, stabilize cell shape by acting as valves releasing cortical contractility. Our findings reveal an inherent instability in the shape of the dividing cell and unveil a novel, spindle-independent mechanism ensuring the stability of cleavage furrow positioning.     

Identification of kinesin in sea urchin eggs, and evidence for its localization in the mitotic spindle

To understand the molecular basis of microtubule-associated motility during mitosis, the mechanochemical factors that generate the relevant motile force must be identified. Myosin, the ATPase that interacts with actin to produce the force for muscle contraction and other forms of cell motility, is believed to be involved in cytokinesis but not in mitosis. Dynein, the mechanochemical enzyme that drives microtubule sliding in eukaryotic cilia and flagella, has been identified in the cytoplasm of sea urchin eggs, but the evidence that it is involved in cytoplasmic microtubule-based motility (rather than serving as a precursor for embryonic cilia) is equivocal. Microtubule-associated ATPases have been prepared from other tissues, but their role in cytoplasmic motility is also unknown. Recent work on axoplasmic transport, however, has led to the identification of a novel mechanochemical protein called kinesin, which is thought to generate the force for moving vesicles along axonal microtubules. These results suggest that kinesin may also be a mechanochemical factor for non-axoplasmic forms of microtubule-based motility, such as mitosis. We describe here the identification and isolation of a kinesin-like protein from the cytoplasm of sea urchin eggs. We present evidence that this protein is localized in the mitotic spindle, and propose that it may be a mechanochemical factor for some form of motility associated with the mitotic spindle.     

Phosphorylation of non-muscle caldesmon by p34cdc2 kinase during mitosis

One of the profound changes in cellular morphology which occurs during mitosis is a massive alteration in the organization of the microfilament cytoskeleton. This change, together with other mitotic events including nuclear membrane breakdown, chromosome condensation and formation of mitotic spindles, is induced by a molecular complex called maturation promoting factor. This consists of at least two subunits, a polypeptide of relative molecular mass 45,000-62,000 (Mr 45-62K) known as cyclin, and a 34K catalytic subunit which has serine/threonine kinase activity and is known as cdc2 kinase. Non-muscle caldesmon, an 83K actin- and calmodulin-binding protein, is dissociated from microfilaments during mitosis, apparently as a consequence of mitosis-specific phosphorylation. We now report that cdc2 kinase phosphorylates caldesmon in vitro principally at the same sites as those phosphorylated in vivo during mitosis, and that phosphorylation reduces the binding affinity of caldesmon for both actin and calmodulin. Because caldesmon inhibits actomyosin ATPase, our results suggest that cdc2 kinase directly causes microfilament reorganization during mitosis.     

Mitosis-specific phosphorylation causes 83K non-muscle caldesmon to dissociate from microfilaments

At mitosis in eukaryotic cells there are profound changes of shape and structure whose causes are almost entirely obscure. What is known is that there are changes in the organization of microfilaments, including the disassembly of microfilament bundles during prophases and the accompanying rounding-up of cultured cells; the formation of transient contractile rings during cytokinesis; and, subsequently, the reassembly of microfilament bundles and the respreading of the two daughter cells. As an initial step towards the biochemical understanding of these events, in which the disassembly and reassembly of microfilaments appear to play an important part, we searched for alterations of the molecular constitution of microfilaments during mitosis. We found that non-muscle caldesmon, a protein with a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 83,000 (83K) which binds to actin and calmodulin, is dissociated from microfilaments during mitosis, apparently as a consequence of phosphorylation. This process may contribute to the changes of shape and structure of cells in mitosis, as caldesmon inhibits actomyosin ATPase.     

非饱和土中力的传递机理与有效应力分析

从力的传递机理入手分析了非饱和土中有效应力。将非饱和土视为由土粒、收缩膜、孔隙水和孔隙气构成的四相介质,水气交界面的收缩膜与土粒构成土骨架系统,它受到表面张力以及土粒间可能出现的胶结力和嵌固力等的作用;非饱和土的流体（水体与气体）只传递无偏应力,而且受渗析作用的影响。根据非饱和土中在任一平面上内外作用力之间的平衡关系导出了可以考虑诸多因素的有效应力表达式。     

Regulation of mitosis by cyclic accumulation of p80cdc25 mitotic inducer in fission yeast

The coordination of somatic cell division with cell size must be accomplished by the accumulation of mitotic inducers or the dilution, in the course of cell growth, of mitotic inhibitors. In fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), cell size at mitosis is determined by expression of the cdc25+ and nim1+ inducer genes and of the inhibitor gene wee1+, which between them regulate the M-phase protein kinase p34cdc2. We now report that both the phosphoprotein product of cdc25+ (p80cdc25, with apparent relative molecular mass 80,000) and the corresponding messenger RNA increase in concentration as cells proceed through interphase, peaking at mitosis. We propose that the cell-cycle timing of mitosis in somatic cells is regulated by the cyclic accumulation of the cdc25 mitotic inducer, which on reaching a critical level results in activation of p34cdc2 protein kinase. Accumulation of this inducer could play a part in coordinating cell division with growth.     

MAD2 haplo-insufficiency causes premature anaphase and chromosome instability in mammalian cells

The mitotic checkpoint protein hsMad2 is required to arrest cells in mitosis when chromosomes are unattached to the mitotic spindle. The presence of a single, lagging chromosome is sufficient to activate the checkpoint, producing a delay at the metaphase-anaphase transition until the last spindle attachment is made. Complete loss of the mitotic checkpoint results in embryonic lethality owing to chromosome mis-segregation in various organisms. Whether partial loss of checkpoint control leads to more subtle rates of chromosome instability compatible with cell viability remains unknown. Here we report that deletion of one MAD2 allele results in a defective mitotic checkpoint in both human cancer cells and murine primary embryonic fibroblasts. Checkpoint-defective cells show premature sister-chromatid separation in the presence of spindle inhibitors and an elevated rate of chromosome mis-segregation events in the absence of these agents. Furthermore, Mad2+/- mice develop lung tumours at high rates after long latencies, implicating defects in the mitotic checkpoint in tumorigenesis.     

钙调素对肿瘤细胞周期的调节作用

利用钙调素拮抗剂三氟拉嗪(TFP)研究了钙调素对HeLa细胞周期进程的影响,TFP处理的细胞被阻抑在G_1/S,使S期群体及DNA合成下降,G_2期群体增加.有丝分裂(M)前期细胞减少,中期细胞增加.结果表明钙调素对G_1至S期.G_2至M期和M中期至M后期具有调节作用,钙调素通过细胞周期中上述3个位点对肿瘤细胞增殖进行调节.     

Role of cortical tumour-suppressor proteins in asymmetric division of Drosophila neuroblast

Cellular diversity during development arises in part from asymmetric divisions, which generate two distinct cells by transmitting localized determinants from a progenitor cell into one daughter cell. In Drosophila, neuroblasts undergo typical asymmetric divisions to produce another neuroblast and a ganglion mother cell. At mitosis, neural fate determinants, including Prospero and Numb, localize to the basal cortex, from which the ganglion mother cell buds off; Inscuteable and Bazooka, which regulate spindle orientation, localize apically. Here we show that a tumour-suppressor protein, Lethal giant larvae (Lgl), is essential for asymmetric cortical localization of all basal determinants in mitotic neuroblasts, and is therefore indispensable for neural fate decisions. Lgl, which itself is uniformly cortical, interacts with several types of Myosin to localize the determinants. Another tumour-suppressor protein, Lethal discs large (Dlg), participates in this process by regulating the localization of Lgl. The localization of the apical components is unaffected in lgl or dlg mutants. Thus, Lgl and Dlg act in a common process that differentially mediates cortical protein targeting in mitotic neuroblasts, and that creates intrinsic differences between daughter cells.     

Rapid leukocyte migration by integrin-independent flowing and squeezing

All metazoan cells carry transmembrane receptors of the integrin family, which couple the contractile force of the actomyosin cytoskeleton to the extracellular environment. In agreement with this principle, rapidly migrating leukocytes use integrin-mediated adhesion when moving over two-dimensional surfaces. As migration on two-dimensional substrates naturally overemphasizes the role of adhesion, the contribution of integrins during three-dimensional movement of leukocytes within tissues has remained controversial. We studied the interplay between adhesive, contractile and protrusive forces during interstitial leukocyte chemotaxis in vivo and in vitro. We ablated all integrin heterodimers from murine leukocytes, and show here that functional integrins do not contribute to migration in three-dimensional environments. Instead, these cells migrate by the sole force of actin-network expansion, which promotes protrusive flowing of the leading edge. Myosin II-dependent contraction is only required on passage through narrow gaps, where a squeezing contraction of the trailing edge propels the rigid nucleus.     

EMS对枇杷花药胚状体细胞有丝分裂的影响

采用不同浓度的EMS对枇杷花药胚状体进行离体诱变,并以未诱变的材料作对照,对其引起的细胞学效应进行了研究．结果表明：在EMS诱变过的材料中均观察到一定数量的染色体畸变;球胚细胞中随着EMS浓度的升高有丝分裂指数降低,而染色体畸变率升高．胚性细胞与球胚细胞中有相同的变化趋势,但各自的分裂指数和染色体畸变率并不相同．     

A role for the nuclear envelope in controlling DNA replication within the cell cycle

In eukaryotes the entire genome is replicated precisely once in each cell cycle. No DNA is re-replicated until passage through mitosis into the next S-phase. We have used a cell-free DNA replication system from Xenopus eggs to determine which mitotic changes permit DNA to re-replicate. The system efficiently replicates sperm chromatin, but no DNA is re-replicated in a single incubation. This letter shows that nuclei replicated in vitro are unable to re-replicate in fresh replication extract until they have passed through mitosis. However, the only mitotic change which is required to permit re-replication is nuclear envelope permeabilization. This suggests a simple model for the control of DNA replication in the cell cycle, whereby an essential replication factor is unable to cross the nuclear envelope but can only gain access to DNA when the nuclear envelope breaks down at mitosis.     

Crowding induces live cell extrusion to maintain homeostatic cell numbers in epithelia

For an epithelium to provide a protective barrier, it must maintain homeostatic cell numbers by matching the number of dividing cells with the number of dying cells. Although compensatory cell division can be triggered by dying cells, it is unknown how cell death might relieve overcrowding due to proliferation. When we trigger apoptosis in epithelia, dying cells are extruded to preserve a functional barrier. Extrusion occurs by cells destined to die signalling to surrounding epithelial cells to contract an actomyosin ring that squeezes the dying cell out. However, it is not clear what drives cell death during normal homeostasis. Here we show in human, canine and zebrafish cells that overcrowding due to proliferation and migration induces extrusion of live cells to control epithelial cell numbers. Extrusion of live cells occurs at sites where the highest crowding occurs in vivo and can be induced by experimentally overcrowding monolayers in vitro. Like apoptotic cell extrusion, live cell extrusion resulting from overcrowding also requires sphingosine 1-phosphate signalling and Rho-kinase-dependent myosin contraction, but is distinguished by signalling through stretch-activated channels. Moreover, disruption of a stretch-activated channel, Piezo1, in zebrafish prevents extrusion and leads to the formation of epithelial cell masses. Our findings reveal that during homeostatic turnover, growth and division of epithelial cells on a confined substratum cause overcrowding that leads to their extrusion and consequent death owing to the loss of survival factors. These results suggest that live cell extrusion could be a tumour-suppressive mechanism that prevents the accumulation of excess epithelial cells.     

不同生境下30种藓类植物茎的比较解剖学研究

使用石蜡切片法,对采自不同生境下的30种藓类植物茎的横切面进行了比较解剖学研究.结果表明:(1)30种藓类植物茎的形状、细胞形状、表皮层数及厚度、皮部是否分化及细胞层数、中轴有无形状以及所占比例等特征因种类不同而差异明显;(2)不同水分环境下藓类植物茎的解剖结构表现出不同的特征:旱生环境下的藓类植物,茎表皮细胞排列紧密、细胞壁强烈增厚或增厚明显,有的具内外皮部分化并且外皮部细胞胞壁增厚;荫湿环境下的藓类植物,其茎表皮细胞多圆形或椭圆形、胞壁稍增厚,表皮及外皮部细胞层数比旱生环境下的藓类植物少;水生环境下的藓类植物,细胞胞壁薄,表皮细胞排列不紧密,茎皮部无内外皮部分化.表明藓类植物茎的表皮及外皮部细胞层数、细胞壁厚度与生境的相关性较大.     

药物诱导肿瘤细胞有丝分裂灾难机制研究

有丝分裂灾难是一种发生在细胞有丝分裂期,由于细胞分裂出现异常而造成的细胞死亡的现象,它通常伴随着细胞周期检查点异常或纺锤体结构的损伤而发生.近年来诱导肿瘤细胞发生有丝分裂灾难成为开发抗肿瘤药物的新分子靶向目标,为对传统化疗药物具有耐药性的肿瘤治疗开辟新的途径.对近年来有关有丝分裂灾难的特征以及药物诱导肿瘤细胞发生有丝分裂灾难机制的研究进展进行全面综述,为发现抗肿瘤新靶点和抗肿瘤新药提供参考依据.     

Bazooka recruits Inscuteable to orient asymmetric cell divisions in Drosophila neuroblasts

Asymmetric cell divisions can be generated by the segregation of determinants into one of the two daughter cells. In Drosophila, neuroblasts divide asymmetrically along the apical-basal axis shortly after their delamination from the neuroectodermal epithelium. Several proteins, including Numb and Miranda, segregate into the basal daughter cell and are needed for the determination of its correct cell fate. Both the apical-basal orientation of the mitotic spindle and the localization of Numb and Miranda to the basal cell cortex are directed by Inscuteable, a protein that localizes to the apical cell cortex before and during neuroblast mitosis. Here we show that the apical localizaton of Inscuteable requires Bazooka, a protein containing a PDZ domain that is essential for apical-basal polarity in epithelial cells. Bazooka localizes with Inscuteable in neuroblasts and binds to the Inscuteable localization domain in vitro and in vivo. In embryos lacking both maternal and zygotic bazooka function, Inscuteable no longer localizes asymmetrically in neuroblasts and is instead uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm. Mitotic spindles in neuroblasts are misoriented in these embryos, and the proteins Numb and Miranda fail to localize asymmetrically in metaphase. Our results suggest that direct binding to Bazooka mediates the asymmetric localization of Inscuteable and connects the asymmetric division of neuroblasts to the axis of epithelial apical-basal polarity.     

HeLa/GFP-H2B 细胞系的构建及对其有丝分裂进程的动态观察

准确的染色体分离依赖于有丝分裂过程的精确调控,包括有丝分裂的时间,及纺锤体检查点的正确调控等。通过动态观察有丝分裂染色体的运动可对上述研究进行精确定量。结果显示,利用逆转录病毒系统成功构建了稳定融合表达绿色荧光蛋白GFP—H2B的HeLa细胞系,结合细胞同步化方法,建立了一套利用活细胞荧光共聚焦显微镜观察HeLa细胞有丝分裂的实验体系。     

一种分析有丝分裂期蛋白的新方法

介绍了一种分析细胞有丝分裂任一时期蛋白质组成及各时期蛋白动态变化的方法，该法将细胞的显微分离，微量蛋白电泳和银染结合起来，通过显微分离可以获得无期它时期细胞污染的任一时期细胞，通过微量蛋白电泳和银染，可以分析其蛋白组成，并通过显微分离100个小麦根尖末期细胞证明了其可行性。     

Inhibition of endocytic vesicle fusion in vitro by the cell-cycle control protein kinase cdc2

Membrane transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane, which involves the budding and fusion of carrier vesicles, is inhibited during mitosis in animal cells. At the same time, the Golgi complex and the nuclear envelope, as well as the endoplasmic reticulum in some cell types, become fragmented. Fragmentation of the Golgi is believed to facilitate its equal partitioning between daughter cells. In fact, it has been postulated that both the inhibition of membrane traffic and Golgi fragmentation during mitosis are due to an inhibition of vesicle fusion, while vesicle budding continues. Although less is known about the endocytic pathway, internalization and receptor recycling are also arrested during mitosis. We have now used a cell-free assay to show that the fusion of endocytic vesicles from baby hamster kidney cells is reduced in Xenopus mitotic cytosol when compared with interphase cytosol. We reconstituted this inhibition in interphase cytosol by adding a preparation enriched in the starfish homologue of the cdc2 protein kinase. Inhibition was greater than or equal to 90% when the added cdc2 activity was in the range estimated for that in mitotic Xenopus eggs, which indicates that during mitosis the cdc2 kinase mediates an inhibition of endocytic vesicle fusion, and possibly other fusion events in membrane traffic.