The polo-like kinase PLK-1 is required for nuclear envelope breakdown and the completion of meiosis in Caenorhabditis elegans.
The Polo-like kinases are key regulatory molecules required during the cell cycle for the successful completion of mitosis. We have cloned a C. elegans homolog of the Drosophila melanogaster polo gene (designated plk-1 for C. elegans polo-like kinase-1) and present the subcellular localization of the PLK-1 protein during the meiotic and mitotic cell cycles in C. elegans oocytes and embryos, respectively. Disruption of PLK-1 expression by RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) disrupts normal oocyte and embryonic development. Inspection of oocytes revealed a defect in nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD) before ovulation. This defect in NEBD was also observed in oocytes that were depleted of the cyclin-dependent kinase NCC-1 (C. elegans homolog of Cdc2). The plk-1 RNAi oocytes were fertilized; however the resulting embryos were unable to separate their meiotic chromosomes or form and extrude polar bodies. These defects led to embryonic arrest as single cells. genesis 26:26-41, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Chase
D
D
National Institute on Aging, National Cancer Institute-FCRF, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
Serafinas
C
C
Ashcroft
N
N
Kosinski
M
M
Longo
D
D
Ferris
D K
DK
Golden
A
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1; C119681:cdk-1 protein, C elegans