Cell shape controls cytoplasmic organization. (A) Time-lapse imaging of a deformed fission yeast cell in a microwell (30 µm in diameter) results in the local accumulation of bud6-3xEGFP, a polarity marker (43′, white arrowheads), and subsequent cell growth from the ectopic site (60′–124′; experiment performed in a cdc25-22 tea1Δ background). Reprinted from Minc et al., 2009 with permission from Elsevier. (B) Cellular confinement on a small extracellular matrix island results in low cortical tension (red), migration of the centriole pair (arrowhead) above the nucleus (blue), and the elaboration of a primary cilium. (C) Cell spreading on a larger island results in higher cortical tension (red), centriole trapping below the nucleus (arrowhead), and the inability to form a primary cilium. Adapted from Pitaval et al. (2010).