And the dead shall rise: Actin and myosin return to the spindle

摘要

The spindle directs chromosome partitioning in eukaryotes and, for the last three decades, has been considered primarily a structure based on microtubules, microtubule motors, and other microtubule binding proteins. However, a surprisingly large body of both old and new studies suggests roles for actin filaments (F-actin) and myosins (F-actin-based motor proteins) in spindle assembly and function. Here we review these data, and conclude that in several cases the evidence for F-actin and myosins participation in spindle function is very strong, and in the situations where it is less strong, there is nevertheless enough evidence to warrant further investigation.