Publications

Inhibition of microtubule assembly using fast temperature changes

Introduction

Sexual reproduction relies on meiosis, a specialized type of cell division, which generates haploid germ cells or gametes. The genome size reduction that occurs during gametogenesis involves two successive cell divisions, termed meiosis I and II, preceded by a single round of genome replication (Dumont and Brunet, 2010). Chromosome gain or loss during meiosis generates aneuploid embryos after fertilization. Aneuploidy is hence a major obstacle in achieving reproductive success, as the vast majority of embryos formed from aneuploid oocytes are non-viable, leading to miscarriage (Nagaoka et al., 2012).

Abstract

In most species, oocytes lack centrosomes. Accurate meiotic spindle assembly and chromosome segregation – essential to prevent miscarriage or developmental defects – thus occur through atypical mechanisms that are not well characterized. Using quantitative in vitro and in vivo functional assays in the C. elegans oocyte, we provide novel evidence that the kinesin-13 KLP-7 promotes destabilization of the whole cellular microtubule network. By counteracting ectopic microtubule assembly and disorganization of the microtubule network, this function is strictly required for spindle organization, chromosome segregation and cytokinesis in meiotic cells. Strikingly, when centrosome activity was experimentally reduced, the absence of KLP-7 or the mammalian kinesin-13 protein MCAK (KIF2C) also resulted in ectopic microtubule asters during mitosis in C. elegans zygotes or HeLa cells, respectively. Our results highlight the general function of kinesin-13 microtubule depolymerases in preventing ectopic, spontaneous microtubule assembly when centrosome activity is defective or absent, which would otherwise lead to spindle microtubule disorganization and aneuploidy.

Publication source

Related Posts

Centrosome Regulation In C. elegans Embryo First Division...
This application note shows Centrosome regulation in C. elegans embryo first division using CherryTemp for Temperature control and temper...
Read more
Sydney Brenner
Tribute to C. elegans Nobel Prize : Sydney Brenner...
THE GENETICS OF CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS (1974) Sydney Brenner shed light on the Caenorhabditis elegans in 1974 with his study demonstrating...
Read more
BUB-1 Promotes Amphitelic Chromosome Biorientation Via Multiple A...
Introduction In the publication Edwards F. et al. (eLife 2018), the authors decipher several molecular mechanisms governing chromosome seg...
Read more

get in touch

Get the best insights about Cherry Biotech by Email Let’s stay in touch!
As part of our commercial prospecting, we may need to process your personal data. For more information, please consult our Privacy Policy