Anterior PAR proteins function during cytokinesis and maintain DYN-1 at the cleavage furrow in Caenorhabditis elegans.
PAR proteins are key regulators of cellular polarity and have links to the endocytic machinery and the actin cytoskeleton. Our data suggest a unique role for PAR proteins in cytokinesis. We have found that at the onset of cytokinesis, anterior PAR-6 and posterior PAR-2 proteins are redistributed to the furrow membrane in a temporal and spatial manner. PAR-6 and PAR-2 localize to the furrow membrane during ingression but PAR-2-GFP is distinct in that it is excluded from the extreme tip of the furrow. Once the midbody has formed, PAR-2-GFP becomes restricted to the midbody region (the midbody plus the membrane flanking it). Depletion of both anterior PAR proteins, PAR-3 and PAR-6, led to an increase in multinucleate embryos, suggesting that the anterior PAR proteins are necessary during cytokinesis and that PAR-3 and PAR-6 function in cytokinesis may be partially redundant. Lastly, anterior PAR proteins play a role in the maintenance of DYN-1 in the cleavage furrow. Our data indicate that the PAR proteins are involved in the events that occur during cytokinesis and may play a role in promoting the membrane trafficking and remodeling events that occur during this time.
Laboratory of Genetics and Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Kelly J
KJ
Pittman
Ahna R
AR
Skop
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D048749:Cytokinesis; D034281:Dynamins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D021381:Protein Transport; D034622:RNA Interference; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C512642:par-6 protein, C elegans; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C097238:PAR-3 protein, C elegans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C511792:Dyn-1 protein, C elegans; D034281:Dynamins