The dynamic rearrangements of microtubules as cells exit mitosis are shown in these movies of anaphase cells. Notice the rapid elongation of astral microtubules (Movie 1), the fragmentation of the centrosome (Movie 2) and the release and transport of individual centrosomal microtubules (Movies 3-5). In movies 4 and 5, photoactivation marks were made on microtubules in cells expressing a photoactivatable variant of GFP linked to tubulin. The marks move toward the periphery indicating microtubule transport. For more information see: Rusan and Wadsworth, Journal of Cell Biology (2005) 168:21-28. Full-text available (PDF,12.9MB).

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Astral Microtubule Elongation in Anaphase

Centrosome Fragmentation

Microtubule Release from the Centrosome

Microtubule Release and Transport: Photoactivation in Anaphase

Photoactivation at the centrosome in Metaphase