Spindle orientation and asymmetric localization in Drosophila: both Inscuteable?
Article Abstract:
The Inscuteable gene was first identified in the central nervous system and in sensory neural precursors. It encodes a protein essential for normal nervous system development. Expression of inscuteable in Drosophila embryos lacking Inscuteable resulted in vertical spindle orientation in the procephalic ectoderm. Misexpression of Inscuteable in the ectoderm resulted in apical localization of the cell fate determinants and initiated vertical spindle orientation, suggesting that Inscuteable is associated with spindle orientation and spindle alignment in Drosophila.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1996
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Morphogenetic properties of microtubules and mitotic spindle assembly
Article Abstract:
Microtubule dynamics is essential to achieve stable mitotic spindle formation. The topic has received much attention but the structural basis of dynamic instability has not been answered. Recent studies suggest that the dynamics of microtubules are dictated by the opposing forces of the intrinsic dynamics of microtubules in the mitotic cytoplasm and its relationship with chromosomes. Instability results when interaction between microtubules during spindle formation breaks down or when the interplay between microtubule dynamics and motors is disrupted.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1996
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A complex of NuMA and cytoplasmic dynein is essential for mitotic spindle assembly
Article Abstract:
Studies on mitotic frog egg extracts have shown that NuMA (for nuclear/mitotic apparatus protein) is essential for the formation of mitotic spindles. Extracts in which NuMA has been immunodepleted produced chromatin-associated arrays of microtubules instead of normal mitotic spindles, indicating that NuMA is a key protein in spindle formation. It was suggested that NuMA forms complexes with cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin and concentrates at the poles, leading to the formation of spindle poles.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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