Dresden 2009 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 7: Poster I
BP 7.13: Poster
Monday, March 23, 2009, 17:45–20:00, P3
Self-organization of Dynein Motors Generates Meiotic Nuclear Oscillations — Sven Vogel1, •Nenad Pavin2,3, Nicola Maghelli1, Frank Jülicher2, and Iva Tolic-Norrelykke1 — 1Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden 01307, Germany — 2Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden 01187, Germany — 3Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10002, Croatia
Meiotic nuclear oscillations in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe are crucial for proper chromosome pairing and recombination. We report a mechanism of these oscillations based on collective behavior of dynein motors linking the cell cortex and dynamic microtubules that extend from the spindle pole body in opposite directions. By combining quantitative live cell imaging and laser ablation with a theoretical description, we show that dynein dynamically redistributes in the cell in response to load forces, resulting in more dynein attached to the leading than to the trailing microtubules. The redistribution of motors introduces an asymmetry of motor forces pulling in opposite directions, leading to the generation of oscillations. Our work provides the first direct in vivo observation of self-organized dynamic dynein distributions, which, due to the intrinsic motor properties, generate regular large-scale movements in the cell.