Figure 4

Model for the evolution of cell division. Cell division is depicted for the ancestral eocyte (A), and at two intermediate stages in the evolution of eukaryotes, before (B) or after (C) bleb fusion. Following the acquisition of blebs, ESCRTIII is used to drive the scission of cytoplasmic bridges connecting cells (likely aided by the archaeal-derived actin cytoskeleton [51]), while LINC complexes and the formation of new nuclear pores restore cell and nuclear organization following division. Mitochondrial segregation is likely aided by host induced Dynamin-mediated scission within the endoplasmic reticulum (not depicted), as observed in modern eukaryotes [91].