A unified theory of the mitotic spindle dynamics during cell division

The proper positioning of the mitotic spindle in eukaryotic cells is crucial for accurate chromosome segregation and the progression of life. It involves the interaction of microtubule assemblies with motor-proteins and subcellular organelles. In an earlier study we used a combination of cytoplasmic flow measurements and computational fluid dynamics simulations to show that the positioning is achieved by pulling forces of motor-proteins bound to the cell boundary on microtubules. Here we propose a kinetic theory based on such active forces and fluid drag that can give analytical prediction of the experimentally measured dynamical response of the mitotic spindle structure in different stages of cell division. The predictions the pronuclear migration, and metaphase spindle dynamics as well as transition to spindle oscillation in anaphase.