Abstract
The eggs of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila bear little similarity to each other, yet both depend on the par genes for control of anterior-posterior polarity. Here we explore possible common roles for the par genes (pars) in converting transient asymmetries into stably polarized axes. Although clear mechanistic parallels remain to be established, par-dependent regulation of microtubule dynamics and protein stability emerge as common themes.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Body Patterning
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Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
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Cell Polarity*
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Cytoplasm / physiology
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Drosophila / cytology
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Drosophila / physiology*
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Drosophila Proteins / physiology*
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Fertilization
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Genes, Helminth
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Genes, Insect
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Microtubules / physiology
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Oocytes / cytology
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Oocytes / physiology
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Oogenesis
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Ovum / cytology
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Ovum / physiology*
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology
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Zygote / cytology
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Zygote / physiology
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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PAR-1 protein, C elegans
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases