Actin and microtubules: working together to control spindle polarity

Fengfeng L Xu; William S Saunders

doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2008.08.007

Actin and microtubules: working together to control spindle polarity

Cancer Cell. 2008 Sep 9;14(3):197-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2008.08.007.

Authors

Fengfeng L Xu¹, William S Saunders

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.

PMID: 18772109
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2008.08.007

Abstract

Centrosomes are frequently amplified in cancer cells, but centrosome clustering pathways act to minimize their detrimental impact on mitosis. Recent data published online in Genes & Developments by Kwon et al. (2008) suggest that these pathways involve microtubule motors, actin, and focal adhesions. Since centrosomal amplification is rarely seen in normal cells, could blocking clustering lead to the selective killing of tumor cells?

MeSH terms

Actins / physiology*
Animals
Aurora Kinases
Centrosome / metabolism
Centrosome / physiology*
Focal Adhesions / physiology
Microtubules / physiology*
Mitosis / physiology
Models, Biological
Molecular Motor Proteins / metabolism
Molecular Motor Proteins / physiology
Neoplasms / metabolism
Neoplasms / pathology
Neoplasms / physiopathology
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
Spindle Apparatus / physiology*

Substances

Actins
Molecular Motor Proteins
Aurora Kinases
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases