Cytokinesis in eukaryotes: a mechanistic comparison

Cytokinesis is a crucial but poorly understood process of cell proliferatio n. Recently, molecular genetic analyses of fungal cytokinesis have led to a n appreciation of contractile mechanisms in simple eukaryotes, and studies in animal and plant cells have led to new insights into the role of microtu bules in the cleavage process. These findings suggest that fundamental mech anisms of cytokinesis may be highly conserved among eukaryotic organisms.