Role of membrane addition in animal cell cytokinesis

Addition of membrane in the form of vesicles is essential for the cytokinesis of animal and plant cells. In the animal cell cytokinesis, membrane fusion acts along with the contraction of an actomyosin ring to separate the cytoplasmic contents. In this study, the possible driving mechanisms for the membrane addition to the plasma membrane of the dividing animal cell and their consequences are presented. Taking cues from earlier studies, we propose that the membrane addition to the plasma membrane in the form of vesicles can be governed by the lateral tension present in the plasma membrane or, the concentrations of actin and myosin proteins at the cleavage furrow or, both simultaneously. The study attempts to elucidate the relationship between membrane addition and the force exerted by the contractile ring. The predictions from our study agree qualitatively with the experimental studies in which the vesicle fusion or the acto-myosin assembly were blocked during cytokinesis. However, the precise role of the two above mentioned mechanisms may depend on various parameters including but not limited to the cell type, organism and microenvironment around the dividing cell.

► During cytokinesis physical separation of cytoplasm into two daughter cells occurs.
► Membrane addition and acto-myosin ring contraction are necessary for completion of cytokinesis.
► Mechanisms of membrane addition and their consequences during cytokinesis are discussed.
► The relationships between membrane addition and the membrane tension and ring force are obtained.
► Predictions from our study agree qualitatively with available experimental observations.