Molecular control of cell polarity and asymmetric cell division in Drosophila neuroblasts.
In the embryonic central nervous system of the fruit fly Drosophila, most neurons and glial cells are generated by asymmetric division of neural stem cells called neuroblasts. Several genes have been identified that are required for the establishment of neuroblast polarity, for the asymmetric segregation of cell fate determinants and for the proper orientation and geometry of the mitotic spindle. However, little was known about the interactions between these genes and their respective gene products. It has emerged that most of the relevant proteins are assembled into three major protein complexes whose molecular interactions are conserved in evolution.
Wodarz
Andreas
A
Abteilung Stammzellbiologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. awodarz@gwdg.de
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D008941:Spindle Apparatus
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins