An Investigation into Contractile Ring Geometry and Dynamics During Early Divisions In Sea Urchin Embryos

Abstract

The contractile ring is pictured, analyzed, and even named under the basic assumption that the geometry of the structure begins and ends circularly and the ring is a single homogenous structure acting uniformly. However, under physiological conditions cell-to-cell adhesions force cells and therefore initial contractile rings into highly irregular and noncircular shapes. To investigate this basic assumption of contractile ring geometry, contractile ring shape of dividing sea urchin embryos was analyzed under three conditions: in seawater where cell-to-cell adhesion is strong, calcium free seawater where cell-to-cell adhesion is minimized, and in microfabricated chambers to artificially manipulate the initial contractile ring shape. We found that contractile ring geometry evolves over time to become circular even when it begins as an irregular shape due to cell-to-cell adhesions or artificial manipulation. By analyzing velocities of specific regions of the contractile ring, it became apparent that there is always a pattern of rounding regions of lowest circularity before overall ring contraction. This pattern suggests that the contractile ring is capable of producing varying forces in a coordinated manner. Therefore the contractile ring can not only be noncircular, but can also possess regions with different molecular and biophysical properties.