The Drosophila Pericentrin-like-protein (PLP) cooperates with Cnn to maintain the integrity of the outer PCM

• DOI: 10.1242/bio.012914
• Publication Date: 2015-07-09T02:15:13Z
• Authors: Jennifer H. Richens; Teresa P. Barros; Eliana P. Lucas; Nina Peel; David Miguel Susa...; Alan Wainman; Jordan W. Raff
• Keywords: Centriole

Centrosomes comprise a pair of centrioles surrounded by matrix pericentriolar material (PCM). In vertebrate cells, Pericentrin plays an important part in mitotic PCM assembly, but the Drosophila Pericentrin-like protein (PLP) appears to have more minor role fly cells. Here we investigate function PLP during rapid cycles early embryo. Unexpectedly, find that is specifically enriched outer-most regions PCM, where it largely co-localizes with scaffold Cnn. absence outer be structurally weakened, and rapidly disperses along centrosomal microtubules (MTs). As result, MTs are subtly disorganized embryos lacking PLP, although mitosis unperturbed these develop hatch at near-normal rates. Y2H analysis reveals can potentially form multiple interactions itself recruiting proteins Asl, Spd-2 A deletion suggests participates complex network ultimately help strengthen PCM.