Metaphase plate

Metaphase Plate

The metaphase plate is a term used in cell biology to describe the plane where chromosomes line up during metaphase, a phase of mitosis and meiosis. The metaphase plate is not a physical structure but an abstract line or plane, centrally located in the cell, along which the chromosomes align during metaphase.

Formation

The formation of the metaphase plate is a crucial step in the process of cell division. During the prophase of mitosis, the chromosomes condense and become visible. In the subsequent prometaphase, the nuclear envelope breaks down and microtubules from the spindle apparatus attach to the kinetochores of the chromosomes. The chromosomes are then moved towards the center of the cell by the action of the spindle fibers. By the time the cell enters metaphase, the chromosomes are aligned along the metaphase plate.

Function

The function of the metaphase plate is to ensure that in the following phase, anaphase, when the sister chromatids are separated, each new nucleus will receive one copy of each chromosome. If the chromosomes do not align properly at the metaphase plate, it can lead to errors in chromosome segregation, which can result in aneuploidy, a condition associated with various diseases, including cancer and Down syndrome.

See also

• Cell cycle
• Cytokinesis
• Interphase
• Telophase