Question

what is the Consequence of blocking the formation of the spindle during mitosis?

Answer 1

Blocking the spindle formation during mitosis causes the cell to die. The process of blocking the formation of the spindle during mitosis is also known as spindle poisoning. This mechanism is used by the anti cancer drugs and thus are referred as anti-mitotics. If the spindle formation is blocked during mitosis then process of cell division is disrupted by affecting the protein threads that connects the centromere of the chromosomes. It basically inhibits the mitotic phase of the cell cycle where the cell actually divides into two. Anti-mitotic agents like vinca alkaloids and taxanes interrupt the cell division by creating a agitation in the microtubule dynamics. So during spindle poisoning, kinetochores are inhibited during mitosis and will prevent them from forming proper attachments to spindle microtubules which ensues mitotic arrest that may last for several hours. Thus, the cells may either exit this situation to normal mitosis through a different pathway (if available) otherwise, they will apoptose and will ultimately lead to the death of the cells.

Hope this helps!!!