Electrostatic Considerations in Mitosis

Identifying the motive force is central to explaining chromosome motions during mitosis. Presently, there is no consensus on what it is. The author has proposed a minimal assumptions model for the dynamics of post-attachment chromosome motions based on nanoscale electrostatics. Given the electrical properties of tubulin and the dynamic instability of microtubules, it is possible to account for prometaphase post-attachment, metaphase, and anaphase chromosome motions within a comprehensive model. The model addresses all of the following in a unified manner:

• Efficiency of aster and spindle assembly and the motive force for the motion of asters and forming half-spindles.
  
• Chromatid pair attachment.
  
• Motion of monovalently attached chromatid pairs.
  
• Motion of bivalently attached chromatid pairs and chromosome congression.
  
• Metaphase chromatid pair oscillations.
  
• Chromatid separation and anaphase-A chromosome motion.
  
• Anaphase-B pole separation.
  
• An ab-initio calculation of the maximum tension force exerted by a microtubule during mitosis that falls within the experimental range.
  
• Poleward force generation of chromosomes at poles with associated microtubule flux.