A
centrosome has been added together with chromatin beads (2 microns)
and Rhodamine labelled Tubulin to a frog egg extract. One can
see how an aster of microtubules interacts with the beads at a
distance. The chromatin generates a chemical signal that affects
microtubule dynamics. As a result, the aster becomes asymmetric
with more microtubules growing towards the beads and the whole
aster is "attracted" by the chromatin beads. This effect
participates to the organisation of the microtubules into a bipolar
structure during spindle assembly. Accelerated 25 times. Experiments
carried out by Rafael Carazo-Salas in Eric Karsenti's laboratory
(2000-2003) Carazo-Salas, R.E. and Karsenti, E. 2003, Current
Biology., 13, 1728-1733. Eric Karsenti link to lab |
