The drug cytochalasin B blocks the function of actin. Which of the following aspects of the animal cell cycle would be most disrupted by cytochalasin B?a. spindle formationb. spindle attachment to kinetochoresc. cell elongation during anaphased. cleavage furrow formation and cytokinesis

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the role of actin in the cell cycle, particularly in processes like cytokinesis.
2. Understand that actin is a key component of the cytoskeleton and plays a crucial role in forming the contractile ring during cytokinesis.
3. Recognize that cytochalasin B disrupts actin polymerization, which would affect processes dependent on actin filaments.
4. Consider each option: spindle formation, spindle attachment to kinetochores, cell elongation during anaphase, and cleavage furrow formation and cytokinesis.
5. Determine which process is most directly dependent on actin, focusing on the role of actin in forming the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis.

Key Concepts

Actin Filaments

Actin filaments are dynamic structures that play a crucial role in various cellular processes, including maintaining cell shape, enabling motility, and facilitating cell division. They are part of the cytoskeleton and are essential for the formation of the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis, where the cell physically divides into two daughter cells.

Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is the process that follows mitosis, where the cytoplasm of a parental cell is divided into two daughter cells. This process is characterized by the formation of a cleavage furrow, which is driven by the contraction of actin filaments. Disruption of actin function, such as by cytochalasin B, can severely impair this process.

Cell Cycle Phases

The cell cycle consists of several phases, including interphase (G1, S, G2) and mitotic phase (M), which encompasses mitosis and cytokinesis. Each phase is tightly regulated to ensure proper cell division and function. Understanding these phases is essential to identify how disruptions, like those caused by cytochalasin B, affect specific processes such as cytokinesis.