Most Ichthyosporean species undergo multiple synchronous nuclear division cycles without concomitant cytokinesis. This allows the formation of multinucleated coenocytes which can reach up to 128 nuclei/coenocytes in the Ichthyosporean Sphaeroforma arctica. To complete the cell cycle, S. arctica coenocytes undergo a coordinated actomyosin-dependent cellularization prior to the generation and release of newborn cells.
Our focus is on deciphering the cellular mechanisms that facilitate patterned nuclear positioning, synchronized nuclear divisions, and trigger cellularization.
