2015 Volume 55 Issue 5 Pages 255-258
The microtubule-based metaphase spindle is subjected to a variety of mechanical forces during cell division. Despite the accumulated knowledge of spindle components and their interactions, we still do not know how this micron-sized structure generates and responds to forces while maintaining its overall integrity, due primarily to the lack of an experimental tool to dissect its system-level mechanics. We have recently developed a biophysical assay that allows for applying and measuring forces in the vertebrate metaphase spindle. Our data reveal the spindle’s remarkable physical property and suggest how it can be advantageous for error-free cell division.
