The Drosophila centrosomal protein Nuf is required for recruiting Dah, a membrane associated protein, to furrows in the early embryo

J Cell Sci. 1999 Sep:112 ( Pt 17):2885-93. doi: 10.1242/jcs.112.17.2885.

Abstract

During mitosis of the Drosophila cortical syncytial divisions, actin-based membrane furrows separate adjacent spindles. Our genetic analysis indicates that the centrosomal protein Nuf is specifically required for recruitment of components to the furrows and the membrane-associated protein Dah is primarily required for the inward invagination of the furrow membrane. Recruitment of actin, anillin and peanut to the furrows occurs normally in dah-derived embryos. However, subsequent invagination of the furrows fails in dah-derived embryos and the septins become dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. This indicates that stable septin localization requires Dah-mediated furrow invagination. Close examination of actin and Dah localization in wild-type embryos reveals that they associate in adjacent particles during interphase and co-localize in the invaginating furrows during prophase and metaphase. We show that the Nuf centrosomal protein is required for recruiting the membrane-associated protein Dah to the furrows. In nuf-mutant embryos, much of the Dah does not reach the furrows and remains in a punctate distribution. This suggests that Dah is recruited to the furrows in vesicles and that the recruiting step is disrupted in nuf mutants. These studies lead to a model in which the centrosomes play an important role in the transport of membrane-associated proteins and other components to the developing furrows.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Centrosome / metabolism*
  • Contractile Proteins / metabolism
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / embryology*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / ultrastructure
  • Insect Proteins / genetics
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Insect Proteins / physiology*
  • Interphase
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Metaphase
  • Microfilament Proteins*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Morphogenesis
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Prophase

Substances

  • Actins
  • Contractile Proteins
  • Dah protein, Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • anillin
  • nuf protein, Drosophila
  • pnut protein, Drosophila