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Open research questions in Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

367 gap statements mined from Microtubule and mitosis dynamics papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,523 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • Cell-matrix adhesion regulates Golgi organization along microtubules (MTs), though how it couples with motor-driven Golgi positioning and function remains unclear.

    KIF5B and Dynein‐Dependent Golgi Organization: Role in Adhesion‐Dependent Microtubule Acetylation · 2026 · DOI

  • The proper positioning of microtubule (MT) asters is essential to regulate division positioning and multi-cellular morphogenesis, yet the mechanisms regulating this process remain poorly understood.

    The Endoplasmic Reticulum as a Cytoplasmic Anchor for Microtubule-Driven Aster Centration · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the cellular origin of CA has not been fully elucidated, specifically whether CA arises from progenitor cells with pre-existing centrosome abnormalities or develops de novo in initially normal tumor cells.

    Lactate drives the emergence of tumor cells with centrosome amplification through CP110 lactylation · 2026 · DOI

  • Depletion of key individual EHD1 interaction partners that are known to bind tubulin fail to impede EHD1-tubulin interactions, suggesting that either several proteins are capable of mediating EHD1's connection with microtubules, or that the bridging interaction partner remains to be identified.

    The endocytic fission protein EHD1 interacts with tubulin and regulates microtubule function · 2026 · DOI

  • It remains unclear how these short, disconnected microtubules collectively assemble a bipolar spindle.

    CryoET imaging reveals that mitotic spindles are locally organized by microtubule density and Eg5 activity · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite its high prevalence in human embryos, the molecular mechanisms regulating aneuploid cell fate during development remain poorly understood.

    Exploring and validating the marmoset as a primate model for chromosomal instability in early development · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the regulatory mechanisms that underlie spindle-actin assembly remain unknown.

    OsBRK1-mediated phosphorylation of OsPFN2 regulates meiotic spindle-actin assembly and rice fertility · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the role of αKNL2 SUMOylation in Arabidopsis has not yet been determined.

    The C-terminal SUMOylation-dependent regulation of αKNL2 governs its centromere targeting and interaction with CENH3 · 2025 · DOI

  • As one such example, past experiments show that cleaving tubulin C-terminal tails (CTTs) lowers kinesin-1's processivity and velocity on microtubules, but how these CTTs intertwine with kinesin's processive cycle remains unclear.

    Computational Modeling Reveals a Catch‐and‐Guide Interaction Between Kinesin‐1 and Tubulin C‐Terminal Tails · 2025 · DOI

  • Despite the importance of this interaction, its structural basis for Kif2A recognition by WDR5 remains unclear.

    Crystal structures of Kif2A complexed with WDR5 reveal the structural plasticity of WIN-S7 sites · 2025 · DOI

  • The mechanism by which PACS1 regulates microtubule trafficking is not well understood. The effect of the PACS1 syndrome mutation on dynein-mediated cargo transport is not well characterized.

    PACS1 syndrome mutation disrupts dynein-mediated cargo transport via HDAC6 and BICD2 · 2026 · DOI

  • The role of Zfhx3 in female reproduction remains unclear. The molecular mechanisms of meiotic progression in oocytes are not fully understood.

    Zfhx3 is required for proper spindle assembly and chromosome segregation during oocyte meiosis I in mice · 2026 · DOI

  • However, it is unclear how Rib modulates Akt/TOR signaling, and it is warranted to demonstrate whether Rib is directly involved in the transcription of key components of Akt/TOR signaling.

    Ribbon constrains dendritic pruning via actin scaffolding and exocyst complex · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the mechanism of dynein-dependent RNA localization. The need to consider bipartite elements in the definition of zipcodes.

    Cracking the (zip)code of dynein-dependent RNA localization · 2026 · DOI

  • While numerous studies have demonstrated AlphaFold’s ability to accurately model highly conserved complexes, its ability to predict interactions in the absence of strong co-evolutionary signals remains unclear.

    Evolution of an Aurora Kinase A Inhibitor from an Essential tRNA Synthetase · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for further research on the use of kinesins as potential biomarkers for breast cancer.

    Bioinformatic profiling of human KIF genes: Unravelling key regulators of breast tumour growth · 2026 · DOI

  • Although KANK proteins link talin-containing FAs to cortical MT-capture machinery, how this machinery couples to force-bearing actin networks remains unclear.

    CCDC66 couples actin-microtubule crosslinking to KANK1-associated microtubule targeting and focal adhesion turnover · 2026 · DOI

  • Radial glial cells (RGCs) generate cortical neurons and guide radial neuronal migration, yet how microtubule (MT) regulators coordinate progenitor maintenance, mitotic fidelity, and cortical architecture remains unclear.

    Kif2C safeguards radial glial integrity to prevent cortical malformation · 2026 · DOI

  • Although our data demonstrate that CKAP2L interacts with AKT and sustains PI3K/AKT signaling by suppressing ubiquitinproteasome-mediated AKT degradation, it remains unclear whether CKAP2L directly inhibits AKT ubiquitination or indirectly regulates this process by recruiting specific E3 ligases or deubiquitinases.

    CKAP2L promotes endometrial cancer progression by suppressing AKT ubiquitination and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway · 2026 · DOI

  • The mechanisms by which EPLIN regulates symmetric spindle positioning are not well understood. The role of CDK1-mediated phosphorylation of EPLIN in mitotic spindle positioning is not clear.

    CDK1-mediated phosphorylation of EPLIN is crucial for mitotic spindle positioning · 2026 · DOI

  • In contrast, an Ect2 variant that was lacking constitutive plasma membrane association via the polybasic cluster, was not only incapable of pulse suppression but instead even stimulated strong pulsatile Rho dynamics.

    Constitutive plasma membrane interaction of active Rho GEF Ect2 inhibits cortex contraction pulses · 2026 · DOI

  • KIF18A, a kinesin motor protein regulating microtubule dynamics during mitosis, is frequently overexpressed in various cancers, but its regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood.

    KIF18A Is a Novel Target of JNK1/c‐Jun Signaling Pathway Involved in Cervical Tumorigenesis · 2025 · DOI

  • The peroxisome motility assay is described with specific conditions (37°C, 5% CO2, 6 consecutive 3-min movies), but the text does not discuss whether these parameters have been validated across different cell types or experimental conditions.

    PACS1 syndrome mutation disrupts dynein-mediated cargo transport via HDAC6 and BICD2 · 2026 · DOI

  • Further evaluation of the compounds in preclinical and clinical trials. The development of new microtubule-targeting agents with improved efficacy and reduced toxicity. The use of in silico ADMET evaluation to aid in the development of new compounds.

    Development of a novel series of thiazole-based compounds with enhanced antiproliferative properties as tubulin polymerization inhibitors · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the KSE element and its role in RNA localization. Investigation of the importance of considering bipartite elements in the definition of zipcodes. Development of new approaches for studying RNA localization.

    Cracking the (zip)code of dynein-dependent RNA localization · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) Cell-matrix adhesion regulates Golgi organization along microtubules (MTs), though how it couples with motor-driven Golgi positioning and function remains unclear (“KIF5B and Dynein‐Dependent Golgi Organization: Role in Adhesion‐Dependent…”, 2026); (2) The proper positioning of microtubule (MT) asters is essential to regulate division positioning and multi-cellular morphogenesis, yet the mechanisms regulating this process remain poorly understood (“The Endoplasmic Reticulum as a Cytoplasmic Anchor for Microtubule-Driven Aster…”, 2026); (3) The cellular origin of CA has not been fully elucidated, specifically whether CA arises from progenitor cells with pre-existing centrosome abnormalities or develops de novo in initially normal tumor cells (“Lactate drives the emergence of tumor cells with centrosome amplification…”, 2026); (4) It remains unclear how these short, disconnected microtubules collectively assemble a bipolar spindle (“CryoET imaging reveals that mitotic spindles are locally organized by…”, 2026); (5) The mechanism by which PACS1 regulates microtubule trafficking is not well understood (“PACS1 syndrome mutation disrupts dynein-mediated cargo transport via HDAC6 and…”, 2026). 367 gap statements have been mined from Microtubule and mitosis dynamics papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,523 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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