Fission yeast meu14+ is required for proper nuclear division and accurate forespore membrane formation during meiosis II.
Using a meiosis-specific subtracted cDNA library of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we identified meu14+ as a gene whose expression is upregulated during meiosis. Transcription of meu14+ is induced abruptly after the cell enters meiosis. Its transcription is dependent on the meiosis-specific transcription factor Mei4. In meu14Delta cells, the segregation and modification of the SPBs (spindle pole bodies) and microtubule elongation during meiosis II were aberrant. Meiotic meu14Delta cells consequently produced a high frequency of abnormal tetranucleate cells harboring aberrant forespore membranes and failed to produce asci. In wild-type cells harboring the integrated meu14+-gfp fusion gene, Meu14-GFP first appeared inside the nuclear region at prophase II, after which it accumulated beside the two SPBs at metaphase II. Thereafter, it formed two ring-shaped structures that surrounded the nucleus at early anaphase II. At post-anaphase II, it disappeared. Meu14-GFP appears to localize at the border of the forespore membrane that later develops into spore walls at the end of sporulation. This was confirmed by coexpressing Spo3-HA, a component of the forespore membrane, with Meu14-GFP. Taken together, we conclude that meu14+ is crucial in meiosis in that it participates in both the nuclear division during meiosis II and the accurate formation of the forespore membrane.
Okuzaki
Daisuke
D
Department of Molecular Genetics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Satake
Wataru
W
Hirata
Aiko
A
Nojima
Hiroshi
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000235:genetics; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C483712:Meu14 protein, S pombe; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; C489539:mei4 protein, S pombe