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Novel modifications to the mechanism of cell division in neural epithelial cells during vertebrate neural tube closure
Author(s) -
Wallingford John,
Kieserman Esther
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a3-b
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , neural tube , cytokinesis , biology , midbody , cell division , neuroepithelial cell , neural cell , asymmetric cell division , cell polarity , mitosis , neural fold , cell , neural stem cell , neural plate , neuroscience , stem cell , genetics , embryo
Migratory cells generally cease their movement while accomplishing the complex process of cell division. During vertebrate neural tube closure however, neural epithelial cells move considerably yet continue to proliferate. We have used time‐lapse confocal imaging of fluorescent fusion proteins in vivo to examine the mechanisms of neuroepithelial cell division during neural tube closure. Using divisions of epidermal cells as a baseline, we identified significant modifications to the mechanism of cell division in neural cells during neural tube closure. These include exaggerated anaphase and apparent tethering of daughter chromosomes to the cell cortex, delayed initiation of cytokinesis, accelerated cytokinetic furrow ingression, and persistence of the midbody following cell division. Initial studies into the molecular basis of these modifications implicate the polarity protein Cdc42 in governing these modifications. Finally, we show that rapid rotations of the metaphase spindle polarize cell divisions in the closing spinal cord. In contrast to similar polarized cell divisions in zebrafish and Drosophila, these do not require planar cell polarity signaling. However, these polarized divisions do require Cdc42, similar to those in the early C. elegans embryo. Together, these data highlight the importance of continued in vivo analyses of cell biological processes in developing embryos. Moreover, we suggest that the observed modifications to the mechanism of cell division may be adaptations in cells that must divide during tissue morphogenesis. We will discuss how each of these modifications could be expected to help prevent defective mitoses (i.e. aneuploidy) in cells that divide while being subjected to the mechanical tensions of jostling within a deforming tissue.