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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Genesis. 2017 Jan;55(1-2):10.1002/dvg.23013. doi: 10.1002/dvg.23013

Figure 2. Encapsulation of Xenopus Cytoplasmic Extracts in Microfabricated Chambers and Cell-Like Compartments.

Figure 2

A. Growth of radial microtubule asters is restricted by the droplet boundary in cytoplasm-filled water-in-oil emulsions. Below a threshold emulsion size, the microtubule growth causes the aster structure to buckle.

B. Spatial control of actin nucleation. Boundary-localized ActA initiates cortical actin polymerization in a cytoplasm-filled water-in-oil emulsions.

C. Nucleus growth scales with the cross-sectional area of the microchannel in which it is confined.

D. Metaphase spindle length is regulated by cytoplasmic volume. This scaling effect, in water-in-oil emulsions, is independent of compartment geometry.

E. Cell cycle duration is dependent on spatial position within cytoplasm-filled tubing.

Citations: i: Pinot et al, 2009, ii: Jiminez et al, 2011, iii: Shah et al, 2014, iv: Pinot et al, 2012, v: Hara et al, 2015, vi: Good et al, 2016, vii: Good et al, 2013, viii: Hazel et al, 2013, ix: Chang et al, 2013. Images courtesy of Z. Gueroui, K. Keren, C. Merten, J. Ferrell.