Spaltungsfurche

Spaltungsfurche, also known as a cleavage furrow, is a structure that forms during the final stages of cytokinesis in animal cells. Cytokinesis is the process by which the cytoplasm of a cell divides to form two daughter cells. The spaltungsfurche is a visible indentation that appears on the surface of the cell membrane.

The formation of the spaltungsfurche is initiated by the assembly of a contractile ring composed primarily of actin filaments and myosin motor proteins, located just beneath the plasma membrane. This ring constricts inward, much like a drawstring on a bag, gradually deepening the indentation. The force generated by the interaction of actin and myosin causes the cell membrane to pinch in, effectively dividing the cell into two.

The precise location of the spaltungsfurche is determined by the position of the mitotic spindle, the structure that separates the chromosomes during mitosis. The furrow typically forms at the equator of the cell, midway between the two separated sets of chromosomes. As the contractile ring continues to constrict, the spaltungsfurche deepens until it completely bisects the parent cell, resulting in the formation of two genetically identical daughter cells. This process is crucial for cell division and the propagation of life.