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Toucan protein is essential for the assembly of syncytial mitotic spindles in Drosophila melanogaster
Author(s) -
Debec Alain,
Grammont Muriel,
Berson Guy,
Dastugue Bernard,
Sullivan William,
Couderc JeanLouis
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/gene.10019
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , mitosis , anaphase , microtubule , drosophila melanogaster , metaphase , genetics , cell cycle , chromosome , gene
Summary: The toc gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a 235‐kD polypeptide with a coiled‐coil domain, which is highly expressed during oogenesis (Grammont et al., 1997, 2000). We now report the localization of the Toucan protein during early embryonic development. The Toucan protein is present only during the syncytial stages and is associated with the nuclear envelope and the cytoskeletal structures of the syncytial embryo. In anaphase A, Toucan is concentrated at the spindle poles near the minus end of microtubules. This microtubule association is very dynamic during the nuclear cell cycle. Mutant embryos lacking the Toucan protein are blocked in a metaphase‐like state. They display abnormal and nonfunctional spindles, characterized by broad poles, detachment of the centrosomes, and failure of migration of the chromosomes. These results strongly suggest that Toucan represents a factor essential for the assembly and the function of the syncytial mitotic spindles. genesis 31:167–175, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.