A force-balance model for centrosome positioning and spindle elongation during interphase and anaphase B

A computational model in one dimension is proposed to position a single centrosome using astral microtubules (MTs) interacting with the cell cortex. The mechanism exploits mutually antagonistic pulling and pushing forces arising from MTs’ binding cortical dynein motors actin-rich cortex their buckling while growing against cortex, respectively. underlying extended account for elongation positioning of bipolar spindle during mitotic anaphase B. Besides MTs, involves interpolar (IPMTs). composite can predict under various circumstances. outcome reveals that elongation, weakened by decreasing overlap between antiparallel IPMTs mid-zone, recovered MTs. one-dimensional models are two dimensions include effect sliding MTs studying dynamics interphase B spindles elongated cells. results reveal stay qualitatively similar dimension.