Mitotic cell rounding

Cell shape changes as a function of mitotic phase. Shown is an example of a HeLa cell cultured on a glass surface. For visualization of DNA and mitotic phase assignment, the cell expresses Histone H2B-GFP to provide fluorescent labeling of chromosomes. Transmitted light (DIC), fluorescence (GFP), and merged images are shown every 4 minutes as the cell transitions from G2 phase through mitosis to telophase/G1 phase.

Mitotic cell rounding is a shape change that occurs in most animal cells that undergo mitosis. Cells abandon the spread or elongated shape characteristic of interphase and contract into a spherical morphology during mitosis. The phenomenon is seen both in artificial cultures in vitro and naturally forming tissue in vivo.