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First published online September 26, 2003
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/jcs.00816

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Animal cell division: a fellowship of the double ring?

Robert Saint and W. Gregory Somers^*

Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia

Author for correspondence (e-mail: robert.saint{at}anu.edu.au)

Despite a century of research into the nature of animal cell division, a molecular explanation for the positioning of the actomyosin contractile ring has remained elusive. The discovery of a novel interaction between regulators of Rho family small GTPases has revealed a link between the mitotic microtubules and the contractile ring during the later stages of mitosis. The properties of the interacting Rho regulators suggest a molecular model for the positioning and initiation of contractile ring furrowing in animal cells. In this `double ring' model, centralspindlin complexes, localized by the action of their kinesin-like protein component, position and activate a cortical equatorial ring of Rho GTPase exchange factors. The resulting ring of activated Rho would then trigger a cascade of events leading to formation and constriction of the contractile ring.

Key words: Cytokinesis, Rho GTPase, PBL/Ect2 RhoGEF, Contractile ring, PAV-KLP/MKLP1, Central spindle, Microtubules

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