Microtubules maintain an intimate relationship with the rings of anillin, septins and actomyosin filaments throughout cytokinesis. In Drosophila, peripheral microtubules emanating from the spindle poles contact the equatorial cell cortex to deliver the signal that initiates formation of the cytokinetic furrow. Mutations that affect microtubule stability lead to ectopic furrowing because peripheral microtubules contact inappropriate cortical sites. The PAV-KLP (Pavarotti-kinesin-like protein)/RacGAP50C (where GAP is GTPase-activating protein) centralspindlin complex moves towards the plus ends of microtubules to reach the cell equator. When RacGAP50C is tethered to the cell membrane, furrowing initiates at multiple non-equatorial sites, indicating that mis-localization of this single molecule is sufficient to promote furrowing. Furrow formation and ingression requires RhoA activation by the RhoGEF (guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor) Pebble, which interacts with RacGAP50C. RacGAP50C also binds anillin, which associates with actin, myosin and septins. Thus RacGAP50C plays a pivotal role during furrow formation by activating RhoA and linking the peripheral microtubules with the nascent rings through its interaction with anillin.
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June 2008
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Conference Article|
May 21 2008
Girds ‘n’ cleeks o' cytokinesis: microtubule sticks and contractile hoops in cell division
David M. Glover;
David M. Glover
1
1Cancer Research U.K. Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email dmg25@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk).
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Luisa Capalbo;
Luisa Capalbo
1Cancer Research U.K. Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K.
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Pier Paolo D'Avino;
Pier Paolo D'Avino
1Cancer Research U.K. Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K.
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Melanie K. Gatt;
Melanie K. Gatt
1Cancer Research U.K. Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K.
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Matthew S. Savoian;
Matthew S. Savoian
1Cancer Research U.K. Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K.
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Tetsuya Takeda
Tetsuya Takeda
1Cancer Research U.K. Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K.
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Biochem Soc Trans (2008) 36 (3): 400–404.
Article history
Received:
January 23 2008
Citation
David M. Glover, Luisa Capalbo, Pier Paolo D'Avino, Melanie K. Gatt, Matthew S. Savoian, Tetsuya Takeda; Girds ‘n’ cleeks o' cytokinesis: microtubule sticks and contractile hoops in cell division. Biochem Soc Trans 1 June 2008; 36 (3): 400–404. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0360400
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