LET-99, GOA-1/GPA-16, and GPR-1/2 are required for aster-positioned cytokinesis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Henrik Bringmann - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Carrie R. Cowan - (Author)
  • Jun Kong - (Author)
  • Anthony A. Hyman - (Author)

Abstract

At anaphase, the mitotic spindle positions the cytokinesis furrow [1]. Two populations of spindle microtubules are implicated in cytokinesis: radial microtubule arrays called asters and bundled nonkinetochore microtubules called the spindle midzone [2-4]. In C. elegans embryos, these two populations of microtubules provide two consecutive signals that position the cytokinesis furrow: The first signal is positioned midway between the microtubule asters; the second signal is positioned over the spindle midzone [5]. Evidence for two cytokinesis signals came from the identification of molecules that block midzone-positioned cytokinesis [5-7]. However, no molecules that are only required for, and thus define, the molecular pathway of aster-positioned cytokinesis have been identified. With RNAi screening, we identify LET-99 and the heterotrimeric G proteins GOA-1/GPA-16 and their regulator GPR-1/2 [10-12] in aster-positioned cytokinesis. By using mechanical spindle displacement, we show that the anaphase spindle positions cortical LET-99, at the site of the presumptive cytokinesis furrow. LET-99 enrichment at the furrow depends on the G proteins. GPR-1 is locally reduced at the site of cytokinesis-furrow formation by LET-99, which prevents accumulation of GPR-1 at this site. We conclude that LET-99 and the G proteins define a molecular pathway required for aster-positioned cytokinesis.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)185-191
Number of pages7
JournalCurrent biology : CB
Volume17
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jan 2007
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 33846194124
ORCID /0000-0002-7689-8617/work/142237010

Keywords

Keywords

  • Anaphase/physiology, Animals, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism, Cytokinesis/genetics, Embryo, Nonmammalian, GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits/metabolism, GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go, GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism, Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism, RNA Interference, Spindle Apparatus/metabolism, Time Factors

Library keywords