Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1925727 Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 2011 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

At mitosis, cells undergo drastic alterations in morphology and cytoskeletal organization including cell rounding during prophase, mitotic spindle assembly during prometaphase and metaphase, chromatid segregation in anaphase, and cytokinesis during telophase. It is well established that myosin II is a motor responsible for cytokinesis. Recent reports have indicated that myosin II is also involved in spindle assembly and karyokinesis. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the functions of myosin II in mitosis and cytokinesis of higher eukaryotes, and discuss the roles of possible upstream molecules that control myosin II in these mitotic events.

► We review the current understanding on the functions of myosin II in cell division. ► We describe new roles of myosin II in spindle positioning and karyokinesis. ► We discuss kinases and phosphatase that control myosin II in cell division.

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Life Sciences Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Biochemistry
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