Chromosome Oscillations in Mitosis

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Chromosome Oscillations in Mitosis

• Otger Campàs 1,2 and Pierre Sens 1,3

1 Institut Curie, UMR 168, Laboratoire
Physico-Chimie Curie
2 Dept. Estructura i Constituents de la Matèria,
Universitat de Barcelona
3 ESPCI, UMR 7083, Laboratoire Physico-Chimie
Théorique
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Phases of cell division
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Chromosome mouvement in mitosis
Rieder et al., Science 300, 91 (2003)
Schematic representation of "typical" chromosome
motions. M - monooriented, characterized by
oscillatory motion C - congression,
characterized by movement away from the attached
spindle pole by the trailing kinetochore and
movement toward the attached spindle pole by the
leading kinetochore B - bioriented and
congressed, characterized by oscillatory motion
A - anaphase, characterized by poleward movement
of all kinetochores. G refers to a short rapid
poleward glide that often occurs during initial
monooriented attachment.
R. V. Skibbens, Victoria P. Skeen, and E. D.
Salmon J. Cell Biol., 122 (1993) 859-875
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Balance of forces on the chromosome
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Balance of forces on the chromosome
Equation for chromosome motion
Phenomenological friction
Chromokinesins Force (Away-from-the-Pole)
Kinetochore Force (poleward)
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Dynamical equations chromosome motion motor
binding
Motor speed chromosome velocity
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Linear Dynamics Stability of the fixed point
Dynamical system
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Dynamical behavior
unstable
stable
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Linear Dynamics Stability of the fixed point
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The system reaches a LIMIT CYCLE
The n-Nullcline is non-monotonous
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Numerical Integration and comparizon with
experiments
Number of bound motors
Chromosome position
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Experimental predictions
Easiest parameter to modify Total number of
motors N
There is a critical number of motors below which
oscillations stop
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Main outcome of the model
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Conclusions

• Oscillations arise from the interplay between
  the cooperative dynamics of chromokinesins and
  the morphological properties of the MT aster.

• Highly non-linear oscillations, similar to those
  observed in-vivo, appear in a considerable region
  of the parameter space.
• Sawtooth shaped oscillations come from different
  kinetics of chromosome motion and motor binding
  dynamics

• Testable prediction - critical number of CK for
  oscillations