Actomyosin-Driven Tension at Compartmental Boundaries Orients Cell Division Independently of Cell Geometry In Vivo (Developmental Cell)

Scarpa et al. investigated whether mechanical forces can control the orientation of the mitotic spindle in vivo. They found that in the Drosophila embryo, an actomyosin cable, rather than cell shape, orients mitoses at compartmental boundaries. Higher tension along this structure promotes centrosome capture by the actomyosin cortex.