The progression of mitosis illustrated

I compiled the following set of microscopy images to teach an undergraduate student how to recognize mitotic phases.

They represent fixed HeLa cells whose DNA has been stained with Hoechst; the cells express a GFP-CENP-A fusion protein, which localizes to the centromeres (giving the green dots staining).

A PDF version (one A4 page) of this note is also available.

	Interphase.
	Early prophase; condensation of chromosomes begins.
	Late prophase: chromosomes are fully condensed and form a circle in the (disappearing) nucleus.
	Prometaphase; the circle opens as chromosomes are mobilized to form the metaphase plate (congression).
	Metaphase; chromosomes are aligned on the metaphase plate.
	Abnormal metaphase; one or several chromosomes failed to align in the metaphase plate.
	Metaphase-to-anaphase transition (late metaphase); the distance between centromeres increases.
	Early anaphase; chromosomes start moving towards the poles (segregation).
	Mid-anaphase; chromosomes now form two distinct shapes.
	Late anaphase; the gap between the two sets of chromosomes widens.
	Abnormal anaphase; presence of lagging chromosomes (or chromosome fragments) between the two sets of migrating chromosomes.
	Telophase; the two chromatin shapes become larger as the chromosomes begin to decondensate.
	Abnormal telophase; presence of a “chromatin bridge” (partial or completeà between the two sets of chromosomes.
	Cytokinesis; chromosomes are decondensed; chromosomal passenger proteins (red, Aurora B kinase) concentrate on the midbody between the two newly formed nuclei.

12 May 2012