On the biomechanics of cytokinesis in animal cells

Abstract

The material properties of the cell membrane are discussed. Various theories concerning the mechanism of cytokinesis in animal cells are presented. The currently accepted mechanism is that of active muscle-like contraction of the furrow base itself. A mathematical model is developed based on this theory. The cell membrane is modelled as a spherical membrane of nonlinear, elastic material. The membrane undergoes large deformations under the action of a contractile ring force in its equatorial plane. The numerical procedure employed in the solution of the governing equations is explained. The numerical results are compared with the experimental observations available in the literature. It is concluded that the cell membrane stiffness increases during the early stages of cleavage and it, later, decreases. The cell membrane division is a biomechanical instability problem. The factors that may facilitate or block cleavage are discussed. The experimental evidences that support the conjectures of the model are pointed out.