Assembly of microtubules and actomyosin rings in the absence of nuclei and spindle pole bodies revealed by a novel genetic method.
BACKGROUND
The nucleus and the centrosomes (spindle pole bodies; SPBs in yeast) are believed to play key roles in the organization of various cellular structures, such as the actomyosin ring and microtubules. The ability to generate cells lacking nuclei and centrosomes (SPBs) is key to the elucidation of the role of these structures in various cellular processes.


RESULTS
Here we describe a genetic method, using the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc16-116 mutant, to reliably and efficiently generate fission yeast cells lacking nuclei and SPBs. We use this approach to show that the assembly of microtubules does not require nuclear associated microtubule organizing centers and SPBs. We also show that actomyosin rings can assemble albeit inefficiently in the absence of nuclei and SPBs.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that key cytoskeletal elements can be assembled in the absence of nuclei and SPBs. In addition, the approach we describe, taken together with physical approaches such as centrifugation, should facilitate the investigation of the role of the nucleus and SPBs in the assembly and inheritance of various cellular structures and organelles.
Huang
Yinyi
Y
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Tran
P T
PT
Oliferenko
Snezhana
S
Balasubramanian
Mohan K
MK
D000205:Actomyosin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005838:Genotype; D053685:Laser Therapy; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008870:Microtubules / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008957:Models, Genetic; D038761:Photobleaching; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000205:Actomyosin