The Experimental Study on the Functions of Non-Muscle Myosin II in Dividing Mammalian Cells

Myosin II was inhibited by 30 muM blebbistatin at metaphase and anaphase of NRK cells. Our findings showed that myosin II was involved in the karyokinesis and maintenance of cell polarity, but not required in actin accumulation in the furrow. Although there was distinct morphology difference from the control, NRK cells inhibited by blebbistatin completed cytokinesis relative normally. The intercellular bridge dynamics analysis showed that intercellular bridge in absence of myosin II thinned more quickly than the controls in early cytokinesis. Cell locomotion mediated by actin which generates active traction force may help to drive furrow ingression of myosin II inhibition cells.