THE ROLE OF NUCLEATION IN PATTERNING MICROTUBULE NETWORKS

Control of microtubule nucleation is important for many microtubule de pendent processes in cells. Traditionally, research has focused on nuc leation of microtubules from centrosomes. However, it is clear that mi crotubules can nucleate from non-centrosome dependent sites. In this r eview we discuss the consequences of non-centrosome dependent microtub ule nucleation for formation of microtubule patterns, concentrating on the assembly of mitotic spindles.