Electrostatic Considerations in Mitosis

Identifying the motive force is central to explaining chromosome motions during mitosis. Presently there is no consensus on what it is. The author has proposed a minimal assumptions model for the dynamics of post-attachment chromosome motions based on nanoscale electrostatics. Given the electrical properties of tubulin and the dynamic instability of microtubules it is possible to account for prometaphase post-attachment metaphase and anaphase chromosome motions within a comprehensive model. The model addresses all of the following in a unified manner:<ul> <li>Efficiency of aster and spindle assembly and the motive force for the motion of asters and forming half-spindles. <li>Chromatid pair attachment. <li>Motion of monovalently attached chromatid pairs. <li>Motion of bivalently attached chromatid pairs and chromosome congression. <li>Metaphase chromatid pair oscillations. <li>Chromatid separation and anaphase-A chromosome motion. <li>Anaphase-B pole separation. <li>An ab-initio calculation of the maximum tension force exerted by a microtubule during mitosis that falls within the experimental range. <li>Poleward force generation of chromosomes at poles with associated microtubule flux.</ul>