Controlling symmetric and asymmetric cell division

orientation

Micropattern geometry can me finetuned to control the orientation of the cell division axis. A set of geometries will give a symmetric orientation of the spindle, where both daughter cells inherit an identical distribution of adhesion points; another set will give an asymmetric orientation of the spindle where the daughter cells will inherit a different distribution (see Thery et al. Nature 447:7143) For example, cells on Arrow shaped patterns divide perpendicularly to the pattern axis, which corresponds to a symmetric orientation. If this pattern is changed to a Crossbow shape, the preferred orientation is along the pattern axis and the orientation is asymmetric. One daughter cell will inherit the adhesive edge while the other will mostly inherit from the non adhesive edges.

Could this control of asymmetric orientation be used to obtain a genuine asymmetric cell division with unequal distribution of differentiation determinants?