Drosophila argonaute-2 is required early in embryogenesis for the assembly of centric/centromeric heterochromatin, nuclear division, nuclear migration, and germ-cell formation.
The RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) or the RISC complex mediates RNAi and is comprised of proteins belonging to the dicer and Argonaute family proteins. Here we show that Argonaute-2 (ago-2) is required for proper nuclear migration, pole cell formation, and cellularization during the early stages of embryonic development in Drosophila. We have traced these defects back to the nuclear division cycles. Unlike wild type, nuclear division is asynchronous in ago-2 embryos and there are defects in chromosome condensation, nuclear kinesis, and assembly of spindle apparatus. The aberrations in the nuclear division cycle are correlated with defects in the formation of centric/centromeric heterochromatin and point to a failure in the assembly of functional centromeres.
Deshpande
Girish
G
Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA.
Calhoun
Gretchen
G
Schedl
Paul
P
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D048750:Cell Nucleus Division; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C433807:AGO2 protein, Drosophila; D000199:Actins; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; D009218:Myosins