The Kavar(D) dominant female-sterile mutations of Drosophila reveal a role for the maternally provided alpha-tubulin4 isoform in cleavage spindle maintenance and elongation.
The dominant-negative female-sterile Kavar(D) mutations and their revertant kavar(r) alleles identify the alphaTubulin67C gene of Drosophila melanogaster, which codes for the maternally provided alpha-tubulin(4) isoform. The mutations result in the formation of monopolar, collapsed spindles (each with two nearby centrosomes, a tassel of microtubules and overcondensed chromosomes), thus revealing a novel function for alpha-tubulin(4) in spindle maintenance and elongation. Molecular features of the two Kavar(D) alleles and a kavar(null) allele are described and models for their actions are discussed.
Venkei
Zsolt
Z
Maternal-Effect and Embryogenesis Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Somogyi B. u. 4, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary.
Szabad
János
J
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005799:Genes, Dominant / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014404:Tubulin