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Might makes right: Using force to align the mitotic spindle

Nature Cell Biology volume 13, pages 736–738 (2011)Cite this article

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Both symmetric and asymmetric divisions rely on alignment of the mitotic spindle with cues from the environment. A study now shows that mitotic spindles find their position by reading the map of forces that load-bearing retraction fibres exert on the cell body.

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Figure 1: How do retraction fibres align the mitotic spindle?
Figure 2: Using force to align the mitotic spindle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oscar M. Lancaster and Buzz Baum are in the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT,

    Oscar M. Lancaster & Buzz Baum

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  1. Oscar M. Lancaster
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  2. Buzz Baum
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Correspondence to Buzz Baum.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Lancaster, O., Baum, B. Might makes right: Using force to align the mitotic spindle. Nat Cell Biol 13, 736–738 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0711-736

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