The second half of mitosis and its implications in cancer biology

Abstract

The nucleus undergoes dramatic structural and functional changes during cell division. With the entry into mitosis, in human cells the nuclear envelope breaks down, chromosomes rearrange into rod-like structures which are collected and segregated by the spindle apparatus. While these processes in the first half of mitosis have been intensively studied, much less is known about the second half of mitosis, when a functional nucleus reforms in each of the emerging cells. Here we review our current understanding of mitotic exit and nuclear reformation with spotlights on the links to cancer biology.

Keywords: Chromatin decondensation; Chromatin segregation defects; Chromosomal instability; Cytokinesis; Genetic instability; Micronuclei; Mitotic exit; Nuclear reformation.