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SUMMARY:The Metaphase Spindle as an Active Liquid Crystal - Needleman\, D 
 (Harvard University)
DTSTART:20130628T080000Z
DTEND:20130628T084500Z
UID:TALK45974@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mustapha Amrani
DESCRIPTION:The spindle is a complex assembly of microtubules\, motors\, a
 nd other associated proteins\, which segregates chromosomes during cell di
 vision. In metaphase\, the spindle exists in a steady-state with a constan
 t flux of molecules and energy continuously modifying and maintaining its 
 architecture. While the self-organization of systems of microtubules and m
 otors have been investigated using theory and experiments\, there have bee
 n few attempts to test if the proposed theories can be used to understand 
 the dynamics and structure of complex biological systems in vivo. Here we 
 use polarized light microscopy\, 3D time-lapse spinning disk confocal micr
 oscopy\, single molecule imaging\, second harmonic generation microscopy\,
  and mechanical measurements to test the validity of continuum models of m
 etaphase spindles. Our results show that a simple continuum model can quan
 titatively explain spindle structure and dynamics\, demonstrate that rigor
 ous physical theories can be used to quantitat ively describe complex subc
 ellular systems\, and provide a framework for understanding the structure 
 of the spindle and its response to physical and molecular perturbations.\n
 \nCo-author: Jan Brugues (Harvard University)\n
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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