Cytokinesis Mechanisms and Membrane Dynamics
Summary
Cytokinesis represents the culminating event of the cell cycle, whereby a single mother cell is partitioned into two genetically identical daughter cells. This process hinges on the precise coordination of cytoskeletal contraction and membrane remodelling. Central to cleavage furrow ingression is the assembly of an actomyosin contractile ring, which generates the force necessary to draw the plasma membrane inward. Concurrently, new membrane material must be delivered to the ingressing furrow to accommodate surface area expansion and facilitate abscission. Membrane dynamics encompass vesicle trafficking pathways—endocytic recycling, secretory delivery and local lipid synthesis—that sculpt lipid composition and curvature at the division site. Lipid microdomains enriched in specific phosphoinositides orchestrate recruitment of cytoskeletal regulators, while contact sites between endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane ensure lipid homeostasis and stabilise contractile ring anchorage. Dysregulation of any component can lead to cytokinetic failure, with implications for development, tissue homeostasis and tumourigenesis.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Cytokinesis Mechanisms and Membrane Dynamics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in cytokinesis mechanisms and membrane dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cytokinesis: The final stage of cell division in which the cytoplasm is partitioned, resulting in two daughter cells.
Actomyosin ring: A contractile structure composed of actin filaments and myosin motors that constricts the cell at the division plane.
Cleavage furrow: The indentation that forms at the cell surface as the contractile ring tightens during cytokinesis.
Vesicle trafficking: The movement of membrane-bound carriers that deliver proteins and lipids to specific cellular locales.
Endoplasmic reticulum–plasma membrane contact site: A junctional region where the endoplasmic reticulum closely apposes the plasma membrane to facilitate lipid and ion exchange.
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2): A minor phospholipid that regulates cytoskeletal attachment and recruits signalling proteins at the membrane.
Endocytic recycling: The process by which internalised membrane and cargo are returned to the cell surface, supporting membrane expansion during division.
References
- Essential Role of COPII Proteins in Maintaining the Contractile Ring Anchoring to the Plasma Membrane during Cytokinesis in Drosophila Male Meiosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
- Fission yeast Duc1 links to ER–PM contact sites and influences PM lipid composition and cytokinetic ring anchoring. Journal of Cell Science (2024).
- Lipid Polarization during Cytokinesis. Cells (2022).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.