Cytokinesis Mechanisms in Fission Yeast

Cytokinesis in fission yeast involves a precisely orchestrated sequence of events that ensures the faithful separation of daughter cells. Central to this process is the assembly of an actomyosin contractile ring at the cell equator, which constricts in coordination with septum synthesis to generate the mechanical force required for furrow ingression. Spatial cues provided by microtubule arrays and associated signalling pathways direct the positioning and timing of ring formation, while a network of scaffold and regulatory proteins governs its stability and constriction dynamics. Concurrently, specialised enzymes synthesise a cell-wall septum beneath the ring, reinforcing membrane invagination and completing cell separation. The interplay between cytoskeletal remodelling, membrane mechanics and cell-wall biogenesis in fission yeast offers a tractable model for understanding universal principles of eukaryotic division and presents opportunities for targeted antifungal strategies and synthetic biology applications.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated how self-organising patterns of motor proteins underpin ring constriction. Investigations reveal that, unlike the homogeneous distribution seen in some cell types, myosin clusters in fission yeast exhibit persistent rotation within the contractile ring both before and during constriction. Computational analysis indicates that this rotational behaviour arises from acto-myosin self-organisation under specific stress regimes, suggesting that distinct mechanical stresses may fine-tune ring function to promote efficient furrow ingression and cellular transport. These findings provide a foundational framework for exploring how physical principles of motor coordination shape cytokinesis across diverse organisms.

Cytokinesis Mechanisms in Fission Yeast publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cytokinesis mechanisms in fission yeast across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Actomyosin: A complex of actin filaments and myosin motors that generates contractile force during cell division.

Contractile ring: A cytokinetic structure composed of actin, myosin and associated proteins that constricts to divide the cell.

Primary septum: The specialised cell-wall material synthesised at the cleavage furrow to separate daughter cells.

Equatorial microtubule organising centre (eMTOC): A specialised site at the cell equator that nucleates microtubules during cytokinesis.

Mechanosensitive ion channel: A membrane protein that responds to mechanical forces to regulate ion flow and cellular processes.

Glucan synthase: An enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of glucan polymers for cell-wall formation.

References

1. Actin–Microtubule Crosstalk Imparts Stiffness to the Contractile Ring in Fission Yeast. Cells (2023).
2. Fission yeast Bgs1 glucan synthase participates in the control of growth polarity and membrane traffic. iScience (2024).
3. The Mechanosensitive Pkd2 Channel Modulates the Recruitment of Myosin II and Actin to the Cytokinetic Contractile Ring. Journal of Fungi (2024).
4. Still and rotating myosin clusters determine cytokinetic ring constriction. Nature Communications (2016).