MITOSIS Pulled Aside

Asymmetric divisions are crucial for generating cell diversity in metazoan organisms and require precise coupling between polarity cues and the positioning of the mitotic spindle. Colombo et al. report the discovery of two GoLoco proteins required for asymmetric spindle positioning in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. By studying the interactions between these proteins and G proteins of the mitotic apparatus, they demonstrate the requirement for G protein signaling to generate asymmetric pulling forces on the mitotic spindle. These forces arise through the uneven distribution of the GoLoco proteins under the control of the anterior-posterior polarity components PAR-2 and PAR-3.

K. Colombo, S. W. Grill, R. J. Kimple, F. S. Willard, D. P. Siderovski, P. Gönczy, Translation of polarity cues into asymmetric spindle positioning in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Science 300, 1957-1961 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]

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Translation of Polarity Cues into Asymmetric Spindle Positioning in Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos

Kelly Colombo, Stephan W. Grill, Randall J. Kimple, Francis S. Willard, David P. Siderovski, and Pierre Gönczy (20 June 2003)
Science 300 (5627), 1957. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1084146]
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