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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Life Science Alliance

Microtubules coordinate cellularization in a coenocytic relative of animals

  • Margarida Araújo1
  • Marine Olivetta2
  • Paolo Ronchi3
  • Viola Oorschot3
  • Arif Khan4
  • Christian Tischer4
  • Hiral Shah1
  • Gautam Dey1
  • Omaya Dudin2
4 affiliations
  1. 1Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
  2. 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva
  3. 3Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
  4. 4European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Data Science Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
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Abstract

Cellularization is the coordinated division of a multinucleate cell into many cells, a common life cycle transition across eukaryotes. In the best-studied model of this process, Drosophila melanogaster , cellularization requires actin and microtubule networks, as well as membrane vesicle delivery to drive the synchronous invagination of plasma membrane furrows. To identify unifying principles, we investigate cellularization in the ichthyosporean Sphaeroforma arctica , a close relative of animals with a multinucleate life cycle stage. Using live-cell imaging, ultrastructure expansion microscopy, and volume electron microscopy, we define the membrane, microtubule, and actin dynamics that accompany cellularization. Using pharmacological inhibitors and centrifugation, we show that the microtubule network positions nuclei evenly at the cortex, thereby specifying furrow positioning. Disrupting microtubules perturbed nuclear position, furrow spacing, and the efficiency of furrow ingression, leading eventually to cells of variable size and nuclear content. Our findings indicate that the microtubule network sets the spatial framework within which actomyosin and membrane delivery drive cellularization and establish S. arctica as a tractable model for comparative studies of this eukaryotic life cycle strategy.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{araujo2026microtubules,
  title = {{Microtubules coordinate cellularization in a coenocytic relative of animals}},
  author = {Margarida Araújo and Marine Olivetta and Paolo Ronchi and Viola Oorschot and Arif Khan and Christian Tischer and Hiral Shah and Gautam Dey and Omaya Dudin},
  journal = {Life Science Alliance},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.26508/lsa.202603917},
  url = {https://www.life-science-alliance.org/lookup/doi/10.26508/lsa.202603917},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Microtubules coordinate cellularization in a coenocytic relative of animals
AU  - Margarida Araújo
AU  - Marine Olivetta
AU  - Paolo Ronchi
AU  - Viola Oorschot
AU  - Arif Khan
AU  - Christian Tischer
AU  - Hiral Shah
AU  - Gautam Dey
AU  - Omaya Dudin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - Life Science Alliance
DO  - 10.26508/lsa.202603917
UR  - https://www.life-science-alliance.org/lookup/doi/10.26508/lsa.202603917
AB  - Cellularization is the coordinated division of a multinucleate cell into many cells, a common life cycle transition across eukaryotes. In the best-studied model of this process, Drosophila melanogaster , cellularization requires actin and microtubule networks, as well as membrane vesicle delivery to drive the synchronous invagination of plasma membrane furrows. To identify unifying principles, we investigate cellularization in the ichthyosporean Sphaeroforma arctica , a close relative of animals with a multinucleate life cycle stage. Using live-cell imaging, ultrastructure expansion microscopy, and volume electron microscopy, we define the membrane, microtubule, and actin dynamics that accompany cellularization. Using pharmacological inhibitors and centrifugation, we show that the microtubule network positions nuclei evenly at the cortex, thereby specifying furrow positioning. Disrupting microtubules perturbed nuclear position, furrow spacing, and the efficiency of furrow ingression, leading eventually to cells of variable size and nuclear content. Our findings indicate that the microtubule network sets the spatial framework within which actomyosin and membrane delivery drive cellularization and establish S. arctica as a tractable model for comparative studies of this eukaryotic life cycle strategy.
SN  - 2575-1077
ER  -