Warwick Press Release In July 2015 researchers at the University of Warwick discovered, accidentally, how the structure of a cell can cause cancer development.  The mesh that holds microtubules together also assists the mitotic spindles (made of microtubules) in cell division.  To learn more about cell division click here.  Mitotic spindles are responsible for making sure new cells have a complete genome: the correct number of chromosomes.  To learn more about spindle structures click here.  It has been known that a cell with too many or too little chromosomes, called aneuploidy, can cause diseases, including cancer.  Mesh gives structural support to mitotic spindles.  Too little or too much support from the mesh causes mitotic spindles to be too weak or too strong (cannot correct mistakes).  The discovery of the mesh occurred when Warwick researchers looked at microtubule structures in a 3D shape and saw that the bridges that hold microtubules together were not “single struts,” but “web-like structures.”  The next step in this research is to determine if it is possible to prevent mesh from giving not the right amount of support.  Could medicine ensure that the mesh supports the mitotic spindles just enough so that a  shared number of chromosomes is guaranteed during cell division?

Kinetochores on chromosomes attach to spindle fiber during cell division

Kinetochores on chromosomes attach to spindle fiber during cell division

Print Friendly, PDF & Email