title: The polarity protein Baz forms a platform for the centrosome orientation during asymmetric stem cell division in the Drosophila male germline.
abstract: Many stem cells divide asymmetrically in order to balance self-renewal with differentiation. The essence of asymmetric cell division (ACD) is the polarization of cells and subsequent division, leading to unequal compartmentalization of cellular/extracellular components that confer distinct cell fates to daughter cells. Because precocious cell division before establishing cell polarity would lead to failure in ACD, these two processes must be tightly coupled; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In Drosophila male germline stem cells, ACD is prepared by stereotypical centrosome positioning. The centrosome orientation checkpoint (COC) further serves to ensure ACD by preventing mitosis upon centrosome misorientation. In this study, we show that Bazooka (Baz) provides a platform for the correct centrosome orientation and that Baz-centrosome association is the key event that is monitored by the COC. Our work provides a foundation for understanding how the correct cell polarity may be recognized by the cell to ensure productive ACD.
authors: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.
authors: Mayu
authors: M
authors: Inaba
authors: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.
authors: Zsolt G
authors: ZG
authors: Venkei
authors: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.
authors: Yukiko M
authors: YM
authors: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060049:Asymmetric Cell Division; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016195:G2 Phase; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C400774:baz protein, Drosophila; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; C472496:Par-1 protein, Drosophila
keywords: D. melanogaster; Drosophila; asymmetric division; cell biology; centrosome; developmental biology; niche; stem cell; stem cells