Cytokinetic nodes are precursor structures that assemble into the actomyosin contractile ring that separates daughter cells in cytokinesis. Chen and Pollard describe how the actin-severing protein cofilin promotes the rapid formation of a complete contractile ring by limiting the actin-based connections between individual nodes. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chen and Pollard from the October 31, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors...