Hypothesis: The telophase disc: Its possible role in mammalian cell cleavage

The molecular signals that determine the position and timing of the furrow that forms during mammalian cell cytokinesis are presently unknown. It is apparent, however, that these signals are generated by the mitotic spindle after the onset of anaphase. Recently we have described a structure that bisects the cell during telophase at the position of the cytokinetic furrow. This structure, the telophase disc, appears to be templated by the mitotic spindle during anaphase, and precedes the formation of the cytokinetic furrow. The relationship of the telophase disc to the myosin and actin based furrowing mechanism is discussed here. We propose that the telophase disc may determine the position and timing of cleavage by recruitment and alignment of myosin.