title: Metaphase arrest with centromere separation in polo mutants of Drosophila.
abstract: The Drosophila gene polo encodes a conserved protein kinase known to be required to organize spindle poles and for cytokinesis. Here we report two strongly hypomorphic mutations of polo that arrest cells of the larval brain at a point in metaphase when the majority of sister kinetochores have separated by between 20-50% of the total spindle length in intact cells. In contrast, analysis of sister chromatid separation in squashed preparations of cells indicates that some 83% of sisters remain attached. This suggests the separation seen in intact cells requires the tension produced by a functional spindle. The point of arrest corresponds to the spindle integrity checkpoint; Bub1 protein and the 3F3/2 epitope are present on the separated kinetochores and the arrest is suppressed by a bub1 mutation. The mutant mitotic spindles are anastral and have assembled upon centrosomes that are associated with Centrosomin and the abnormal spindle protein (Asp), but neither with gamma-tubulin nor CP190. We discuss roles for Polo kinase in recruiting centrosomal proteins and in regulating progression through the metaphase-anaphase checkpoint.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Campaign Cell Cycle Genetics Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohkura
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deak
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Glover
mesh_terms: D000705:Anaphase / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology*; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000378:metabolism; D019926:Cyclin B / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology; D008677:Metaphase / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C503698:CycB protein, Drosophila; D019925:Cyclin A; D019926:Cyclin B; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C577502:fzy protein, Drosophila; D011494:Protein Kinases; C072004:polo protein, Drosophila; C090464:Bub1 spindle checkpoint protein; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases