Cytokinesis
Division of the cytoplasm during cell division (separate from mitosis)Happens during telophase
Cytokinesis is the process of cell division during which the cytoplasmic contents of a single cell are divided between two daughter cells. It is a crucial step in the cell cycle that follows mitosis and marks the completion of cell division.
The process of cytokinesis can vary depending on the type of cell. In animal cells, cytokinesis starts with the formation of a contractile ring made up of actin and myosin filaments around the cell at the position where the cell will eventually divide. The ring contracts, forming a cleavage furrow that deepens until it cuts the cell in two. In plant cells, cytokinesis is accomplished through the formation of a cell plate, which is a new cell wall that appears between the two nuclei of the dividing cell. The cell plate grows outward, eventually forming the cell walls of two new daughter cells.
Cytokinesis is a tightly regulated process that involves the coordinated action of several proteins and molecular pathways. Some of the important proteins involved in cytokinesis include myosin, actin, and microtubules. The process of cytokinesis is also regulated by the activity of several checkpoint proteins, such as cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases.
Defects in cytokinesis can have serious consequences for the cell and the organism. For example, failure of cytokinesis can lead to the formation of multinucleated cells, which can contribute to the development of cancer. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of cytokinesis is important for the development of new cancer treatments.
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Anaphase: The Crucial Stage of Mitosis and Meiosis for the Separation of Chromosomes.The Significance of Metaphase in Cell Division – Ensuring Accurate Chromosome Segregation
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