title: Spatial redistribution of poly(A)+ RNA during polarization of the Fucus zygote is dependent upon microfilaments.
abstract: Asymmetrical distribution of mRNA has been associated with polarization and cell fate determination during early development of animal embryos. In this report we determine the distribution pattern of poly(A)+ RNA during early embryogenesis of the brown alga Fucus. Poly(A)+ RNA is symmetrically distributed in the egg and early zygote. Shortly after the polar axis is established, poly(A)+ RNA becomes segregated to the thallus pole of the zygote. Following cytokinesis, most of poly(A)+ RNA is partitioned into the thallus cell. We show that the spatial redistribution of poly(A)+ RNA requires intact microfilaments and the fixation of the polar axis, but is not dependent upon polarized growth of the rhizoid, intact microtubules, or orientation of the division plane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-3280, USA.
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Bouget
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerttula
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Quatrano
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D016764:Cell Polarity; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D015053:Zygote / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger