Dgp71WD is required for the assembly of the acentrosomal Meiosis I spindle, and is not a general targeting factor for the γ-TuRC

• DOI: 10.1242/bio.2012596
• Publication Date: 2012-03-07T05:31:58Z
• Authors: Richard F. Reschen; Nathalie Colombie; Lucy Wheatley; Jeroen Dobbelaere; Daniel St Johnston; Hiro Ohkura; Jordan W. Raff
• Keywords: Centrosome; 0301 basic medicine; Meiosis; 03 medical and health sciences; QH301-705.5; Science; Q; Mitosis; Dgp71WD; Biology (General); Research Article

Summary Dgp71WD/Nedd1 proteins are essential for mitotic spindle formation. In human cells, Nedd1 targets γ-tubulin to both centrosomes and spindles, but in other organisms the function of is less clear. Drosophila Dgp71WD plays a major part targeting not centrosomes, while Xenopus egg extracts, acts as more general microtubule (MT) organiser that can independently γ-tubulin. The interpretation these studies, however, complicated by fact some residual likely present cells/extracts analysed. Here we generate null mutant lacking all last 12 nucleotides coding sequence. complete loss has no quantifiable effect on or Centrosomin recruitment centrosome larval brain cells. MTs, severely impaired, MT density reduced manner indistinguishable from cells Augmin γ-TuRC function. contrast, absence leads defects assembly acentrosomal female Meiosis I severe than those seen mutants, indicating additional functions independent complexes oocytes. Moreover, localisation bicoid RNA during oogenesis, which requires function, unperturbed Dgp71WD120 mutants. Thus, simply cofactor required and/or targeting, it appears have crucial role spindle.