1. The relative roles of centrosomal and kinetochore-driven microtubules in Drosophila spindle formation
- Author
-
Silvia Bonaccorsi, Elisabetta Bucciarelli, Maria Patrizia Somma, Ramona Lattao, Claudia Pellacani, Maria Grazia Giansanti, Violaine Mottier-Pavie, Maurizio Gatti, Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Charles Darwin', Institut Pasteur, Fondation Cenci Bolognetti - Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP)-Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP)-Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza' = Sapienza University [Rome], CNR - National Research Council of Italy, and Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology
- Subjects
Male ,MESH: Drosophila ,MESH: Drosophila Proteins ,Spindle Apparatus ,[SDV.BC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Cellular Biology ,microtubule growth ,Biology ,Microtubules ,MESH: Centrosome ,PLK1 ,male meiosis ,Spindle pole body ,spindle assembly ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Microtubule ,centrosomes ,drosophila ,kinetochores ,mitosis ,Animals ,Drosophila Proteins ,Humans ,MESH: Animals ,Kinetochores ,MESH: Spindle Apparatus ,030304 developmental biology ,Centrosome ,[SDV.GEN]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Genetics ,0303 health sciences ,MESH: Humans ,MESH: Kinetochores ,MESH: Microtubules ,Kinetochore ,Microtubule organizing center ,Cell Biology ,MESH: Male ,Spindle apparatus ,Cell biology ,MESH: Microtubule-Associated Proteins ,Drosophila ,Microtubule-Associated Proteins ,Multipolar spindles ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Mitotic spindle assembly in centrosome-containing cells relies on two main microtubule (MT) nucleation pathways, one based on centrosomes and the other on chromosomes. However, the relative role of these pathways is not well defined. Here we review the studies on spindle formation in Drosophila centrosome-containing cells. Mutants with impaired centrosome function assemble functional anastral spindles in somatic tissues and survive to adulthood. In contrast, mutants defective in chromosome-driven MT formation form highly aberrant mitotic spindles and die at larval stages. The requirements for spindle assembly in Drosophila male meiotic cells are diametrically opposed to those of somatic cells. Spermatocytes assemble morphologically normal spindles in the complete absence of chromosome-induced MTs, but are unable to organize a functional spindle in the absence of centrosomal MTs. Male meiotic spindles are much larger than mitotic spindles as they contain most of the tubulin needed for sperm tail formation. We suggest that the centrosome-based mechanism of spindle assembly in spermatocytes reflects their need for rapid and efficient polymerization of a particularly large amount of tubulin. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- Published
- 2012