The dynactin complex is required for cleavage plane specification in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos.
BACKGROUND
During metazoan development, cell diversity arises primarily from asymmetric cell divisions which are executed in two phases: segregation of cytoplasmic factors and positioning of the mitotic spindle - and hence the cleavage plane -relative to the axis of segregation. When polarized cells divide, spindle alignment probably occurs through the capture and subsequent shortening of astral microtubules by a site in the cortex.


RESULTS
Here, we report that dynactin, the dynein-activator complex, is localized at cortical microtubule attachment sites and is necessary for mitotic spindle alignment in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Using RNA interference techniques, we eliminated expression in early embryos of dnc-1 (the ortholog of the vertebrate gene for p150(Glued)) and dnc-2 (the ortholog of the vertebrate gene for p50/Dynamitin). In both cases, misalignment of mitotic spindles occurred, demonstrating that two components of the dynactin complex, DNC-1 and DNC-2, are necessary to align the spindle.


CONCLUSIONS
Dynactin complexes may serve as a tether for dynein at the cortex and allow dynein to produce forces on the astral microtubules required for mitotic spindle alignment.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
A R
AR
Skop
J G
JG
White
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum; D000072159:Dynactin Complex; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
C000606360:DCTN1 protein, human; C000606361:DCTN2 protein, human; D000072159:Dynactin Complex; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014404:Tubulin