The cytoskeleton is responsible for major internal organization and re-organization within the cell, all without a manager to direct changes. This especially case during mitosis or meiosis, where microtubules form spindle cell division. machinery used segregate genetic material Toward creating self-organized spindles in vitro, we recently developed technique reconstitute into spindle-like assem...

In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, interphase microtubules (MTs) position the nucleus [1, 2], which in turn positions the cell-division plane [1, 3]. It is unclear how the spindle orients, with respect to the predetermined division plane, to ensure that the chromosomes are segregated across this plane. It has been proposed that, during prometaphase, the astral MT interaction with t...

gamma-Tubulin is a conserved component of microtubule-organizing centers and is thought to be involved in microtubule nucleation. A recently discovered Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene (TUB4) encodes a tubulin that is related to, but divergent from, gamma-tubulins. TUB4 is essential for cell viability, and epitope-tagged Tub4 protein (Tub4p) is localized to the spindle pole body (Sobel, S.G., and ...

The spindle checkpoint monitors mitotic spindle integrity and the attachment of kinetochores to the spindle. Upon sensing a defect the checkpoint blocks cell cycle progression and thereby prevents chromosome missegregation. Previous studies in budding yeast show that the activated spindle checkpoint inhibits the onset of anaphase by an unknown mechanism. One possible target of the spindle check...

In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mitotic spindle must align along the mother-bud axis to accurately partition the sister chromatids into daughter cells. Previous studies showed that spindle orientation required both astral microtubules and the actin cytoskeleton. We now report that maintenance of correct spindle orientation does not depend on F-actin during G2/M phase of the c...

Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare variant of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma that affects young males and most commonly involves the paratesticular region. We report a case of paratesticular spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma in a 14-year-old boy, who presented with a painless scrotal mass. Left inguinal orchidectomy was performed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of the mass r...

pseudoinclusions are sometimes evident and mild nuclear pleomorphism is typical. Mitoses are either absent or extremely infrequent. By definition dendritic cells are said not to be seen in this lesion. The growth pattern often presents a plexiform appearance, fascicles of nevus cells following the dermal appendages and neurovascular bundles. Perineural or endoneural extension is a very common f...

Coordinated cell polarization and mitotic spindle orientation are thought to be important for epithelial morphogenesis. Whether spindle orientation is indeed linked to epithelial morphogenesis and how it is controlled at the molecular level is still unknown. Here, we show that the NuMA- and Galpha-binding protein LGN is required for directing spindle orientation during cystogenesis of MDCK cell...

Dear Dr. Bedrossian: Although histological examination is by-and-far considered the gold standard for most soft tissue diagnoses, fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an excellent modality to determine the initial characteristics of the lesion in question. To our knowledge, there have been only two reported cases of ordinary lipoma and spindle-cell lipoma occurring at the same time in the same patie...

In asymmetric divisions, the mitotic spindle must align according to the cell polarity axis. This is achieved through targeting astral microtubules emanating from each spindle pole to opposite cell cortex compartments. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful genetic model for dissection of this complex process. Intense research in this yeast has rendered detailed models for a program linking act...