title: A mitotic role for GSK-3beta kinase in Drosophila.
abstract: Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) is involved in a wide variety of cellular processes, and implicated in a growing list of human diseases. Recent drug inhibition studies have suggested a role for GSK-3beta in mitosis in animals. Here, we take an alternative approach to understanding GSK-3beta function in mitosis by genetic mutational analysis in Drosophila. GSK-3beta function is well conserved between Drosophila (Zw3) and humans, frequently operating similarly in pathways, as diverse as the Wnt signaling and circadian rhythm pathways, and sharing a key role in the development of the neuromuscular junction. Unlike drug inhibitor studies, we find that loss of function mutations of zw3 result in markedly curved, or bent, metaphase spindles that exhibit metaphase delay. These defects do not routinely result in mitotic catastrophe, and argue that Zw3 plays a role in the maintenance of the mitotic spindle, rather than an essential role in spindle morphogenesis. Consistent with a mitotic function, we observe a complex and dynamic localization of Zw3 during cell division. These studies provide genetic data that validate and extend drug inhibition studies on a novel mitotic role for glycogen synthase kinase in the maintenance of the mitotic spindle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. ewojci@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wojcik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000201:enzymology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D017344:Genes, Insect; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D008677:Metaphase; D008938:Mitosis; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D021381:Protein Transport; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000201:enzymology; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C080335:Sgg protein, Drosophila; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3