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Drosophila neural progenitor polarity and asymmetric division
Author(s) -
Wang Hongyan,
Chia William
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1042/bc20040064
Subject(s) - neuroblast , biology , asymmetric cell division , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , cell division , cell polarity , polarity (international relations) , embryonic stem cell , progenitor cell , neural stem cell , neurogenesis , cell , genetics , stem cell , gene
In the Drosophila embryonic central nervous system, the neural precursor cells called neuroblasts undergo a number of asymmetric divisions along the apical—basal axis to give rise to different daughter cells of distinct fates. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of these asymmetric cell divisions. We discuss proteins that are localized at distinct domains of cortex in the neuroblasts and their role in generating asymmetry. We also review uniformly cortical localized factors and actin cytoskeleton‐associated motor proteins with regard to their potential role to serve as a link between distinct cortical domains in the neuroblasts. In this review, asymmetric divisions of sensory organ precursor and larval neuroblasts are also briefly discussed.