Abstract
Polarization of the one-cell C. elegans embryo establishes the animal's anterior-posterior (a-p) axis. We have identified reduction-of-function anaphase-promoting complex (APC) mutations that eliminate a-p polarity. We also demonstrate that the APC activator cdc20 is required for polarity. The APC excludes PAR-3 from the posterior cortex, allowing PAR-2 to accumulate there. The APC is also required for tight cortical association and posterior movement of the paternal pronucleus and its associated centrosome. Depletion of the protease separin, a downstream target of the APC, causes similar pronuclear and a-p polarity defects. We propose that the APC/separin pathway promotes close association of the centrosome with the cortex, which in turn excludes PAR-3 from the posterior pole early in a-p axis formation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Alleles
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Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
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Animals
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Body Patterning*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / chemistry
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
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Cdc20 Proteins
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Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
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Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
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Cell Polarity*
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / cytology
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / embryology
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
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Endopeptidases*
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Helminth Proteins / metabolism
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Ligases / chemistry
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Ligases / genetics
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Ligases / metabolism*
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Male
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Meiosis
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Models, Biological
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Mutation / genetics
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Protein Subunits
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RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
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RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
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Separase
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes*
Substances
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CDC20 protein, S cerevisiae
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Cdc20 Proteins
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Helminth Proteins
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Protein Subunits
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RNA, Double-Stranded
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
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par-2 protein, C elegans
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
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Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
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PAR-3 protein, C elegans
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Endopeptidases
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Separase
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Ligases