title: Components of the spindle-assembly checkpoint are essential in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The spindle-assembly checkpoint ensures that, during mitosis and meiosis, chromosomes do not segregate until they are properly attached to the microtubules of the spindle. Here we show that mdf-1 and mdf-2 are components of the spindle-assembly checkpoint in Caenorhabditis elegans, and are essential for the long-term survival and fertility of this organism. Loss of function of either of these genes leads to the accumulation of a variety of defects, including chromosome abnormalities, X-chromosome non-disjunction or loss, problems in gonad development, and embryonic lethality. Antibodies that recognize the MDF-2 protein localize to nuclei of the cleaving embryo in a cell-cycle-dependent manner. mdf-1, a gene encoding a product that interacts with MDF-2, is required for cell-cycle arrest and proper chromosome segregation in premeiotic germ cells treated with nocodazole, a microtubule-depolymerizing agent. In the absence of mdf gene products, errors in chromosome segregation arise and accumulate, ultimately leading to genetic lethality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 6174 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001542:Benomyl / Q000494:pharmacology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020043:Genes, Essential / Q000235:genetics; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000235:genetics; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006720:Homozygote; D064246:Mad2 Proteins; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010641:Phenotype; D011485:Protein Binding; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; C577695:MAD2 protein, S cerevisiae; C412839:MDF-1 protein, C elegans; C412840:MDF-2 protein, C elegans; D064246:Mad2 Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015739:Nocodazole; D001542:Benomyl