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Fission yeast cytoskeletons and cell polarity factors: connecting at the cortex
Author(s) -
Carbona Stéphanie,
Goff Catherine,
Goff Xavier
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1042/bc20060048
Subject(s) - biology , schizosaccharomyces pombe , cell cortex , microbiology and biotechnology , cell polarity , multicellular organism , polarity (international relations) , cytoskeleton , schizosaccharomyces , mitosis , cell division , microtubule , cytokinesis , cell , interphase , yeast , actin , saccharomyces cerevisiae , genetics
Cell polarity is a fundamental property of cells from unicellular to multicellular organisms. Most of the time, it is essential so that the cells can achieve their function. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a powerful genetic model organism for studying the molecular mechanisms of the cell polarity process. Indeed, S. pombe cells are rod‐shaped and cell growth is restricted at the poles. The accurate localization of the cell growth machinery at the cell cortex, which involves the actin cytoskeleton, depends on cell polarity pathways that are temporally and spatially regulated. The importance of interphase microtubules and cell polarity factors acting at the cortex of cell ends in this process has been shown. Here, we review recent advances in knowledge of molecular pathways leading to the establishment of a cellular axis in fission yeast. We also describe the role of cortical proteins and mitotic cytoskeletal rearrangements that control the symmetry of cell division.