Multinucleate
Encyclopedia
Multinucleate cells have more than one nucleus
per cell
, which is the result of nuclear division not being followed by cytokinesis
. As a consequence, multiple nuclei share one common cytoplasm
. This can be the consequence of a disturbed cell cycle control (e.g. in metastazing tumor
cells and certain mutants of S. cerevisiae) but also commonly occurs naturally (e.g. in cells of the musculoskeletal and blood systems of mammals, tapetal cells of plants, in filamentous fungi, Proteus mirabilis
swarmer cells, in storage cells of Douglas-fir
seeds ).
In some cases these cells are produced from specialized cell cycles in which nuclear division occurs without cell division leading to large syncytia. For fungi, multinucleate cells may extend over hundreds of meters so that different regions of a single cell experience dramatically different microenvironments.
Mitosis
in multinucleate cells can occur either in a coordinated, synchronous manner where all nuclei divide simultaneously
or asynchronously where individual nuclei divide independently in time and space.
Cell nucleus
In cell biology, the nucleus is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells. It contains most of the cell's genetic material, organized as multiple long linear DNA molecules in complex with a large variety of proteins, such as histones, to form chromosomes. The genes within these...
per cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
, which is the result of nuclear division not being followed by cytokinesis
Cytokinesis
Cytokinesis is the process in which the cytoplasm of a single eukaryotic cell is divided to form two daughter cells. It usually initiates during the late stages of mitosis, and sometimes meiosis, splitting a binucleate cell in two, to ensure that chromosome number is maintained from one generation...
. As a consequence, multiple nuclei share one common cytoplasm
Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is a small gel-like substance residing between the cell membrane holding all the cell's internal sub-structures , except for the nucleus. All the contents of the cells of prokaryote organisms are contained within the cytoplasm...
. This can be the consequence of a disturbed cell cycle control (e.g. in metastazing tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
cells and certain mutants of S. cerevisiae) but also commonly occurs naturally (e.g. in cells of the musculoskeletal and blood systems of mammals, tapetal cells of plants, in filamentous fungi, Proteus mirabilis
Proteus mirabilis
Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod shaped bacterium. It shows swarming motility, and urease activity. P. mirabilis causes 90% of all Proteus infections in humans.-Diagnosis:...
swarmer cells, in storage cells of Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
seeds ).
In some cases these cells are produced from specialized cell cycles in which nuclear division occurs without cell division leading to large syncytia. For fungi, multinucleate cells may extend over hundreds of meters so that different regions of a single cell experience dramatically different microenvironments.
Mitosis
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets, in two separate nuclei. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis, which divides the nuclei, cytoplasm, organelles and cell membrane into two cells containing roughly...
in multinucleate cells can occur either in a coordinated, synchronous manner where all nuclei divide simultaneously
or asynchronously where individual nuclei divide independently in time and space.