The equatorial position of the metaphase plate ensures symmetric cell divisions

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Abstract

Chromosome alignment in the middle of the bipolar spindle is a hallmark of metazoan cell divisions. When we offset the metaphase plate position by creating an asymmetric centriole distribution on each pole, we find that metaphase plates relocate to the middle of the spindle before anaphase. The spindle assembly checkpoint enables this centering mechanism by providing cells enough time to correct metaphase plate position. The checkpoint responds to unstable kinetochore-microtubule attachments resulting from an imbalance in microtubule stability between the two half-spindles in cells with an asymmetric centriole distribution. Inactivation of the checkpoint prior to metaphase plate centering leads to asymmetric cell divisions and daughter cells of unequal size; in contrast, if the checkpoint is inactivated after the metaphase plate has centered its position, symmetric cell divisions ensue. This indicates that the equatorial position of the metaphase plate is essential for symmetric cell divisions.

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Chia Huei Tan

Department of Physiology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Ivana Gasic

Department of Physiology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Sabina P Huber-Reggi

Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Damian Dudka

Department of Physiology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Marin Barisic

Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Helder Maiato

Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Patrick Meraldi

Department of Physiology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

For correspondence
Patrick.meraldi@unige.ch

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Reviewing Editor

Jon Pines, The Gurdon Institute, United Kingdom

Version history

Received: October 11, 2014
Accepted: July 17, 2015
Accepted Manuscript published: July 18, 2015 (version 1)
Version of Record published: August 14, 2015 (version 2)

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This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.