title: Molecular genetics of asymmetric cleavage in the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo.
abstract: Asymmetric cleavage plays an important role in Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis. In addition to generating cellular diversity, several early asymmetric cleavages contribute to the spatial organization of the embryo. Genetic and molecular analyses of several genes, including six par genes and the mex-1 and mes-1 genes, together with experimental embryological studies, have provided insights into mechanisms controlling polarity and spindle orientations during these cleavages. In particular, these studies focus attention on microfilament-based motility and changing protein distributions at the cell cortex.
authors.affiliation: Section of Genetics and Development, 101 Biotechnology Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kemphues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D008967:Molecular Biology; D015053:Zygote / Q000502:physiology