title: A role for vasa in regulating mitotic chromosome condensation in Drosophila.
abstract: Vasa (Vas) is a conserved DEAD-box RNA helicase expressed in germline cells that localizes to a characteristic perinuclear structure called nuage. Previous studies have shown that Vas has diverse functions, with roles in regulating mRNA translation, germline differentiation, pole plasm assembly, and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA)-mediated transposon silencing. Although vas has also been implicated in the regulation of germline proliferation in Drosophila and mice, little is known about whether Vas plays a role during the mitotic cell cycle. Here, we report a translation-independent function of vas in regulating mitotic chromosome condensation in the Drosophila germline. During mitosis, Vas facilitates robust chromosomal localization of the condensin I components Barren (Barr) and CAP-D2. Vas specifically associates with Barr and CAP-D2, but not with CAP-D3 (a condensin II component). The mitotic function of Vas is mediated by the formation of perichromosomal Vas bodies during mitosis, which requires the piRNA pathway components aubergine and spindle-E. Our results suggest that Vas functions during mitosis and may link the piRNA pathway to mitotic chromosome condensation in Drosophila.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jun Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pek
authors.forename: Toshie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C088269:vas protein, Drosophila; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases