Although cell division has been studied for over a hundred years, still relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms. Cell division in many eukaryotic cells is accomplished through the action of an actin-based contractile ring that may squeeze the cell into two. A key question is how the ring and the subsequent division plane are placed in the cell. Our studies aim to identify signals that position the division plane. S. pombe , a simple rod-shaped cell that divides by medial fission, is a great model system for cytokinesis.
Fission yeast divide using an actin-based ring similar to the contractile ring of animal cells.
In fission yeast, we can use genetics to identify, manipulate and label gene products. We and others have identified genes responsible for assembly and placement of the ring. We are currently fascinated by how cellular components are localized to specific sites inside cells, and how they travel to these sites. Analysis of cdc12 mutants show that cdc12 is required for actin ring formation during cytokinesis. Imaging live cells expressing GFP-cdc12 fusion protein revealed that during interphase cdc12p is present in a single discrete spot that moves around throughout the cell and then parks at the cell middle at mitosis and spreads out into a central ring.