Membrane fission, which facilitates compartmentalization of biological processes into discrete, membrane-bound volumes, is essential for cellular life. Proteins with specific structural features including constricting rings, helical scaffolds, and hydrophobic membrane insertions are thought to be the primary drivers of fission. In contrast, here we report a mechanism of fission that is independ...

Heterochromatin spreading leads to the silencing of genes within its path, and boundary elements have evolved to constrain such spreading. In fission yeast, heterochromatin at centromeres I and III is flanked by inverted repeats termed IRCs, which are required for proper boundary functions. However, the mechanisms by which IRCs prevent heterochromatin spreading are unknown. Here, we identified ...

Rutherford backscattering and particle induced x-ray emission have been utilized to precisely characterize targets used in nuclear fission experiments. The method allows for a fast and non destructive determination of target thickness, homogeneity and element composition.

Microtubules play a central role in centering the nucleus or mitotic spindle in eukaryotic cells. However, despite common use of microtubules for centering, physical mechanisms can vary greatly, and depend on cell size and cell type. In the small fission yeast cells, the nucleus can be centered by pushing forces that are generated when growing microtubules hit the cell boundary. This mechanism ...

While the dynamin GTPase Drp1 plays a critical role during mitochondrial fission, mechanisms controlling its recruitment to fission sites are unclear. A current assumption is that cytosolic Drp1 is recruited directly to fission sites immediately prior to fission. Using live-cell microscopy, we find evidence for a different model, progressive maturation of Drp1 oligomers on mitochondria through ...

in this study, a general theoretical model to foresee and calculate the current-voltagecharacteristics in a plateau zone and the associated efficiency of the neutron detector (sensitivity) is presented. this study is to complete the previous studies in this field. the model also considers electric field distortion resulting from the charge collection effect. the characteristics curve is obtaine...

The results of model calculations on nuclide yields produced by firstchance fission of excited U nuclei are presented. The calculations show the washing out of structural effects (even-odd structure and fission channels), the broadening of the mass distribution and the reduction of the neutron excess with increasing excitation energy. The calculations are relevant for the design of future secon...

The GTPase dynamin polymerizes into a helical coat that constricts membrane necks of endocytic pits to promote their fission. However, the dynamin mechanism is still debated because constriction is necessary but not sufficient for fission. Here, we show that fission occurs at the interface between the dynamin coat and the uncoated membrane. At this location, the considerable change in membrane ...

an analysis of selected fission fragment angular distributions from helium-ion induced fission is made using an exact theoretical expression. theoretical anisotropies obtained with the transition state model are compared with their corresponding values deduced from the statistical scission model. the nuclear moment of inertia extracted from the model calculations are compared with their estimat...