scholarly journals Centrosomal and Non-Centrosomal Microtubule-Organizing Centers (MTOCs) in Drosophila melanogaster

Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Tillery ◽  
Caitlyn Blake-Hedges ◽  
Yiming Zheng ◽  
Rebecca Buchwalter ◽  
Timothy Megraw

The centrosome is the best-understood microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) and is essential in particular cell types and at specific stages during Drosophila development. The centrosome is not required zygotically for mitosis or to achieve full animal development. Nevertheless, centrosomes are essential maternally during cleavage cycles in the early embryo, for male meiotic divisions, for efficient division of epithelial cells in the imaginal wing disc, and for cilium/flagellum assembly in sensory neurons and spermatozoa. Importantly, asymmetric and polarized division of stem cells is regulated by centrosomes and by the asymmetric regulation of their microtubule (MT) assembly activity. More recently, the components and functions of a variety of non-centrosomal microtubule-organizing centers (ncMTOCs) have begun to be elucidated. Throughout Drosophila development, a wide variety of unique ncMTOCs form in epithelial and non-epithelial cell types at an assortment of subcellular locations. Some of these cell types also utilize the centrosomal MTOC, while others rely exclusively on ncMTOCs. The impressive variety of ncMTOCs being discovered provides novel insight into the diverse functions of MTOCs in cells and tissues. This review highlights our current knowledge of the composition, assembly, and functional roles of centrosomal and non-centrosomal MTOCs in Drosophila.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Gao ◽  
Saturnino Herrero ◽  
Valentin Wernet ◽  
Sylvia Erhardt ◽  
Oliver Valerius ◽  
...  

Centrosomes are important microtubule-organizing centers (MTOC) in animal cells. In addition, non-centrosomal MTOCs (ncMTOCs) were described in many cell types. Functional analogs of centrosomes in fungi are the spindle pole bodies (SPBs). In Aspergillus nidulans additional MTOCs were discovered at septa (sMTOC). Although the core components are conserved in both MTOCs, their composition and organization are different and dynamic. Here, we show that the polo-like kinase PlkA binds the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) receptor protein ApsB and contributes to targeting ApsB to both MTOCs. PlkA coordinates SPB outer plaque with sMTOC activities. PlkA kinase activity was required for astral MT formation involving ApsB recruitment. PlkA also interacted with the γ-TuRC inner plaque receptor protein PcpA. Mitosis was delayed without PlkA, and the PlkA protein was required for proper mitotic spindle morphology, although this function was independent of its catalytic activity. Our results suggest polo-like kinase as a regulator of MTOC activities and as a scaffolding unit through interaction with γ-tubulin ring complex receptors.


1984 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 70s-75s ◽  
Author(s):  
M Miller ◽  
F Solomon

The microtubules of the mature erythrocyte of the chicken are confined to a band at the periphery. Whole-mount electron microscopy after extraction reveals that the number of microtubules in each cell is almost the same. All the microtubules can be depolymerized by incubation in the cold, and the marginal band can be quantitatively and qualitatively reformed by return to 39 degrees C. These properties allow the reformation of the marginal band to be treated as an in vivo microtubule assembly reaction. The kinetics of this reaction and the intermediates detected during reformation suggest a mechanism of microtubule organization that is distinct from that observed in other cell types. Apparently only one or two growing microtubule ends are available for assembly--assembly is only detected at the cell periphery, even at early times--and there is no evidence of the participation of a microtubule-organizing center.


1992 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 813-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Tooze ◽  
M Hollinshead

We have studied the effects of brefeldin A (BFA) on the tubular endosomes in AtT20 and HeLa cells (Tooze, J., and M. Hollinshead. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 115:635-653) by electron microscopy of cells labeled with three endocytic tracers, HRP, BSA-gold, and transferrin conjugated to HRP, and by immunofluorescence microscopy. For the latter we used antibodies specific for transferrin receptor, and, in the case of AtT20 cells, also antibodies specific for synaptophysin. In HeLa cells BFA at concentrations ranging from 1 micrograms to 10 micrograms/ml causes the dispersed patches of network of preexisting tubular early endosomes to be incorporated within 5 min into tubules approximately 50 nm in diameter but up to 40-50 microns long. These long, straight tubular endosomes are aligned along microtubules; they branch relatively infrequently to form an open network or reticulum extending from the cell periphery to the microtubule organizing center (MTOC). As the incubation with BFA is prolonged beyond 5 min, a steady state is reached in which many tubules are located in a dense network enclosing the centrioles, with branches extending in a more open network to the periphery. This effect of BFA, which is fully reversed within 15-30 min of washing out, is inhibited by pre-incubating the cells with sodium azide and 2-deoxy-D-glucose. In AtT20 cells BFA at 5 micrograms/ml or above causes the same sorts of changes, preexisting tubular endosomes are recruited into a more continuous endosomal network, and there is a massive accumulation of this network around the MTOC. Maintenance of the BFA-induced endosomal reticulum in both cell types is dependent upon the integrity of microtubules. In AtT20 cells BFA at 1 microgram/ml has no detectable effect on the early endosomal system but the Golgi stacks are converted to clusters of tubules and vesicles that remain in the region of the MTOC during prolonged incubations. Therefore, the Golgi apparatus in these cells is more sensitive to BFA than the early endosomes. The morphological evidence suggests that all the tubular early endosomes in BFA-treated HeLa and AtT20 cells are linked together in a single reticulum. Consistent with this, incubations as short as 1-3 min with 10 or 20 mg/ml HRP in the medium result in the entire endosomal reticulum in most of the BFA-treated cells being filled with HRP reaction product.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Becker ◽  
Silvia Vergarajauregui ◽  
Florian Billing ◽  
Maria Sharkova ◽  
Eleonora Lippolis ◽  
...  

AbstractNon-centrosomal microtubule organizing centers (ncMTOC) are pivotal for the function of multiple cell types, but the processes initiating their formation are unknown. Here, we find that the transcription factor myogenin is required in myoblasts for recruiting centrosomal proteins. Moreover, myogenin is sufficient in fibroblasts for ncMTOC formation and centrosome attenuation. Bioinformatics combined with loss- and gain-of-function experiments identified induction of AKAP6 expression as one central mechanism for myogenin-mediated ncMTOC formation. Promoter studies indicate that myogenin preferentially induces the transcription of muscle- and ncMTOC-specific isoforms of Akap6 and Syne1, which encodes nesprin-1α, the ncMTOC anchor protein in muscle cells. Overexpression of AKAP6β and nesprin-1α was sufficient to recruit endogenous centrosomal proteins to the nuclear envelope of myoblasts in the absence of myogenin. Taken together, our results illuminate how mammals transcriptionally control the switch from a centrosomal MTOC to an ncMTOC and identify AKAP6 as a novel ncMTOC component in muscle cells.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1436-1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Sue Renzaglia ◽  
Angel R. Maden ◽  
Jeffrey G. Duckett ◽  
Dean P. Whittier

Unlike Lycopodium laterale, which is polyplastidic during spermatogenesis, Lycopodium obscurum exhibits monoplastidy beginning in the early proliferative stages of antheridial development. Previous cell generations are polyplastidic and plastid fusion involving connective cylinders establishes the monoplastidic condition. Plastid and nuclear divisions are coordinated in L. obscurum with the plastids positioned at opposite poles prior to spindle development. Unlike monoplastidic cell divisions with morphogenetic plastid migration and polarity in other lycophytes, mosses, and hornworts, however, the spindles in L. obscurum do not originate from the plastid envelopes but from endoplasmic reticulum positioned against the plastid. In the final divisions, spindle microtubules emanate from structurally defined microtubule organizing centers that develop between the plastids and nucleus. Preceding the appearance of centrioles in the spermatid mother cell, the centrosomes comprise electron-dense granular matrices with associated vesicles and endoplasmic reticulum. Among archegoniate microtubule organizing centers, the discrete acentriolar centrosomes of Lycopodium most closely resemble the microtubule organizing centers in moss spore development and the polar organizer of liverwort mitosis. Key words: annulate lamellae, centrosome, Lycopodium, microtubule organizing center, monoplastidy, plastid dividing ring.


1984 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1730-1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Karsenti ◽  
J Newport ◽  
R Hubble ◽  
M Kirschner

We have designed experiments that distinguish centrosomal , nuclear, and cytoplasmic contributions to the assembly of the mitotic spindle. Mammalian centrosomes acting as microtubule-organizing centers were assayed by injection into Xenopus eggs either in a metaphase or an interphase state. Injection of partially purified centrosomes into interphase eggs induced the formation of extensive asters. Although centrosomes injected into unactivated eggs (metaphase) did not form asters, inhibition of centrosomes is not irreversible in metaphase cytoplasm: subsequent activation caused aster formation. When cytoskeletons containing nuclei and centrosomes were injected into the metaphase cytoplasm, they produced spindle-like structures with clearly defined poles. Electron microscopy revealed centrioles with nucleated microtubules. However, injection of nuclei prepared from karyoplasts that were devoid of centrosomes produced anastral microtubule arrays around condensing chromatin. Co-injection of karyoplast nuclei with centrosomes reconstituted the formation of spindle-like structures with well-defined poles. We conclude from these experiments that in mitosis, the centrosome acts as a microtubule-organizing center only in the proximity of the nucleus or chromatin, whereas in interphase it functions independently. The general implications of these results for the interconversion of metaphase and interphase microtubule arrays in all cells are discussed.


2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 6523-6535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Gill ◽  
Jeffery L. Kutok ◽  
Joyce D. Fingeroth

ABSTRACT The thymidine kinase (TK) encoded by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) differs not only from that of the alphaherpesviruses but also from that of the gamma-2 herpesvirus subfamily. Because cellular location is frequently a determinant of regulatory function, to gain insight into additional role(s) of EBV TK and to uncover how the lymphocryptovirus and rhadinovirus enzymes differ, the subcellular localizations of EBV TK and the related cercopithecine herpesvirus-15 TK were investigated. We show that in contrast to those of the other family members, the gamma-1 herpesvirus TKs localize to the centrosome and even more precisely to the periphery of the centriole, tightly encircling the tubulin-rich centrioles in a microtubule-independent fashion. Centrosomal localization is observed in diverse cell types and occurs whether the protein is expressed independently or in the context of lytic EBV infection. Surprisingly, analysis of mutants revealed that the unique N-terminal domain was not critical for targeting to the centrosome, but rather, peptide sequences located C terminal to this domain were key. This is the first herpesvirus protein documented to reside in the centrosome, or microtubule-organizing center, an amembranous organelle that regulates the structural biology of the cell cycle through control of chromosome separation and cytokinesis. More recently, proteasome-mediated degradation of cell cycle regulatory proteins, production and loading of antigenic peptides onto HLA molecules, and transient homing of diverse virion proteins required for entry and/or egress have been shown to be coordinated at the centrosome. Potential implications of centrosomal localization for EBV TK function are discussed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 4816-4825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Koch ◽  
Christopher T. Capaldo ◽  
Stanislav Samarin ◽  
Porfirio Nava ◽  
Irmgard Neumaier ◽  
...  

Wnt signaling pathways regulate proliferation, motility, and survival in a variety of human cell types. Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) is a secreted Wnt antagonist that has been proposed to regulate tissue homeostasis in the intestine. In this report, we show that Dkk-1 is secreted by intestinal epithelial cells after wounding and that it inhibits cell migration by attenuating the directional orientation of migrating epithelial cells. Dkk-1 exposure induced mislocalized activation of Cdc42 in migrating cells, which coincided with a displacement of the polarity protein Par6 from the leading edge. Consequently, the relocation of the microtubule organizing center and the Golgi apparatus in the direction of migration was significantly and persistently inhibited in the presence of Dkk-1. Small interfering RNA-induced down-regulation of Dkk-1 confirmed that extracellular exposure to Dkk-1 was required for this effect. Together, these data demonstrate a novel role of Dkk-1 in the regulation of directional polarization of migrating intestinal epithelial cells, which contributes to the effect of Dkk-1 on wound closure in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu-Young Sim ◽  
Kyeong Chan Im ◽  
Sung-Gyoo Park

Natural autoantibodies, immunoglobulins (Igs) that target self-proteins, are common in the plasma of healthy individuals; some of the autoantibodies play pathogenic roles in systemic or tissue-specific autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Recently, the field of autoantibody-associated diseases has expanded to encompass neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), with related studies examining the functions of Igs in the central nervous system (CNS). Recent evidence suggests that Igs have various effects in the CNS; these effects are associated with the prevention of neurodegeneration, as well as induction. Here, we summarize the functional roles of Igs with respect to neurodegenerative disease (AD and PD), focusing on the target antigens and effector cell types. In addition, we review the current knowledge about the roles of these antibodies as diagnostic markers and immunotherapies.


eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Becker ◽  
Silvia Vergarajauregui ◽  
Florian Billing ◽  
Maria Sharkova ◽  
Eleonora Lippolis ◽  
...  

Non-centrosomal microtubule organizing centers (MTOC) are pivotal for the function of multiple cell types, but the processes initiating their formation are unknown. Here, we find that the transcription factor myogenin is required in murine myoblasts for the localization of MTOC proteins to the nuclear envelope. Moreover, myogenin is sufficient in fibroblasts for nuclear envelope MTOC (NE-MTOC) formation and centrosome attenuation. Bioinformatics combined with loss- and gain-of-function experiments identified induction of AKAP6 expression as one central mechanism for myogenin-mediated NE-MTOC formation. Promoter studies indicate that myogenin preferentially induces the transcription of muscle- and NE-MTOC-specific isoforms of Akap6 and Syne1, which encodes nesprin-1α, the NE-MTOC anchor protein in muscle cells. Overexpression of AKAP6β and nesprin-1α was sufficient to recruit endogenous MTOC proteins to the nuclear envelope of myoblasts in the absence of myogenin. Taken together, our results illuminate how mammals transcriptionally control the switch from a centrosomal MTOC to an NE-MTOC and identify AKAP6 as a novel NE-MTOC component in muscle cells.


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