Drosophila female meiosis and embryonic syncytial mitosis use specialized Cks and CDC20 proteins for cyclin destruction.
Female meiosis and the rapid mitotic cycle of early embryos are two non-canonical cell cycles that occur sequentially in the same cell, the egg, and utilize the same pool of cell cycle proteins. Using a genetic approach to identify genes that are specifically required for these cell cycles in Drosophila, we found that a Drosophila Cks gene, Cks30A is required for spindle assembly and anaphase progression in both female meiosis and in the syncytial embryo. Cks30A interacts with Cdk1 to target cyclin A for destruction in the female germline, possibly through the activation of a novel germline specific CDC20 protein, Cortex. These results indicate that anaphase progression in female meiosis and the early embryo are under unique control in Drosophila.
Swan
Andrew
A
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
Schüpbach
Trudi
T
D000818:Animals; D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008540:Meiosis; D008938:Mitosis
D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D016213:Cyclins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C577503:cort protein, Drosophila; C504434:Cks30A protein, Drosophila; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases