Mechanisms of mitotic spindle alignment by cytoplasmic microtubules and cell shape in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

• Applicant: Professorin Iva Marija Tolic, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 61969951

The mitotic spindle is a molecular machine made of microtubules and motor proteins, which segregates chromosomes into daughter cells during cell division. In all eukaryotic cells, spindle position and alignment with respect to the cell division plane is important for a successful segregation of the chromosomes. The main goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms that align the spindle with the cell axis. We use the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model cell because it has only up to 10 microtubules, a simple cylindrical cell shape, and highly developed genetics. We have recently shown that interphase microtubules are required for the alignment of early fission yeast spindles, and that astral microtubules exert pushing forces on late spindles. The specific aims of the proposed project are: 1) to decipher the molecular mechanism of early spindle alignment by interphase microtubules, 2) to identify the contribution of astral microtubules to spindle alignment, and 3) to uncover the role of cell shape in spindle alignment. The principles discovered in this project should be applicable to studies of microtubule organization and mitotic spindle positioning in higher eukaryotic cells.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants