During mitosis, ensembles of dynamic MTs and motors exert forces that coordinate chromosome segregation. Typically, chromosomes align at the metaphase spindle equator where they oscillate along the pole-pole axis before disjoining and moving poleward during anaphase A, but spindles in different cell types display differences in MT dynamicity, in the amplitude of chromosome oscillations and in r...

Haploid gametes are generated through two consecutive meiotic divisions, with the segregation of chromosome pairs in meiosis I and sister chromatids in meiosis II. Separase-mediated stepwise removal of cohesion, first from chromosome arms and later from the centromere region, is a prerequisite for maintaining sister chromatids together until their separation in meiosis II [1]. In all model orga...

background: the aim of the current study was to assess the mrna levels of two mitochondria-related genes, including nuclear-encoded nrf1 (nuclear respiratory factor 1), mitochondrial transcription factor a (tfam), and mitochondrial-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mt-co1) genes in various stages of the human oocyte maturation. methods: oocytes were obtained from nine infertile women with...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by chronic anovulation and hyperandro genism and affects approximately 5-10% of women of reproductive age. In vitro maturation (IVM) of mammalian oocytes has become an efficient method to produce mature oocytes in order to use in assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intra cytoplasmic sperm injection ...

Cell division is inherently mechanical, with cell mechanics being a critical determinant governing the cell shape changes that accompany progression through the cell cycle. The mechanical properties of symmetrically dividing mitotic cells have been well characterized, whereas the contribution of cellular mechanics to the strikingly asymmetric divisions of female meiosis is very poorly understoo...

DNA topoisomerase II (EC 5.99.1.3) is necessary for chromosome condensation and disjunction in yeast but not for other functions. In mammalian cells, it has been reported to be necessary for progression toward mitosis but not for transit through mitosis. We have found, on the contrary, that specific inhibition of topoisomerase II (but not of topoisomerase I) interferes with mammalian mitotic pr...