Mitotic Cortical Waves Predict Future Division Sites by Encoding Positional and Size Information

Dynamic spatial patterns such as traveling waves could theoretically encode spatial information, but little is known about whether or how they are employed by biological systems, especially higher eukaryotes. Here, we show that concentric target or spiral waves of active Cdc42 and the F-BAR protein FBP17 are invoked in adherent cells at the onset of mitosis. These waves predict the future sites of cell divisions and represent the earliest known spatial cues for furrow assembly. Unlike interphase waves, the frequencies and wavelengths of the mitotic waves display size-dependent scaling properties. While the positioning role of the metaphase waves requires microtubule dynamics, spindle and microtubule-independent inhibitory signals are propagated by the mitotic waves to ensure the singularity of furrow formation. Taken together, we propose that metaphase cortical waves integrate positional and cell size information for division-plane specification in adhesion-dependent cytokinesis. [Display omitted] •Cdc42 and FBP17 form target or spiral waves in mitosis and predict division site•Mitotic target waves display size-scaling properties•Mitotic waves regulate cell adhesion in mitosis•Mitotic waves encode both positive and negative cues for furrow assembly Xiao et al. report cortical target waves of active Cdc42 and the F-BAR protein FBP17 in adherent metaphase cells that predict the site of cell division and have size-dependent scaling properties. These dynamic traveling waves can integrate positional and cell size information for division-plane specification in adhesion-dependent cytokinesis.