Figure 1. Different lengths of epithelial cells may dictate the mechanism of apical nuclear movement for mitosis.
Microtubule-dependent and actin-dependent forces may contribute to apical movement during division, but the length of the cell may determine which mechanism contributes the most. Highly elongated cells, such as radial glia, may require the microtubule cytoskeleton. Shorter epithelia undergo shorter nuclear movements to and from the apical surface. In this case, actin-based forces that round up the cell may suffice, with little need for the microtubule cytoskeleton. Cytoplasm of the cells is shown in green, nuclei and DNA are shown in blue. Centrosomes are red and cilia are magenta.