Drosophila aPKC is required for mitotic spindle orientation during symmetric division of epithelial cells.
Epithelial cells mostly orient the spindle along the plane of the epithelium (planar orientation) for mitosis to produce two identical daughter cells. The correct orientation of the spindle relies on the interaction between cortical polarity components and astral microtubules. Recent studies in mammalian tissue culture cells suggest that the apically localised atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) is important for the planar orientation of the mitotic spindle in dividing epithelial cells. Yet, in chicken neuroepithelial cells, aPKC is not required in vivo for spindle orientation, and it has been proposed that the polarization cues vary between different epithelial cell types and/or developmental processes. In order to investigate whether Drosophila aPKC is required for spindle orientation during symmetric division of epithelial cells, we took advantage of a previously isolated temperature-sensitive allele of aPKC. We showed that Drosophila aPKC is required in vivo for spindle planar orientation and apical exclusion of Pins (Raps). This suggests that the cortical cues necessary for spindle orientation are not only conserved between Drosophila and mammalian cells, but are also similar to those required for spindle apicobasal orientation during asymmetric cell division.
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras 2781-901, Portugal.
Leonardo G
LG
Guilgur
Pedro
P
Prudêncio
Tânia
T
Ferreira
Ana Rita
AR
Pimenta-Marques
Rui Gonçalo
RG
Martinho
D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002455:Cell Division; D016764:Cell Polarity; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020730:Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000201:enzymology*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D020730:Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors; C405164:Pins protein, Drosophila; C115015:PKC-3 protein; D011493:Protein Kinase C