A mechanism for the elimination of the female gamete centrosome in
            <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Pimenta-Marques, Ana; Bento, Inês; Lopes, Carla A.M.; Duarte, Paulo; Jana, Swadhin Chandra; Bettencourt-Dias, Mónica

doi:10.1126/science.aaf4866

Cited by 104 publications

(203 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Moreover, Polo-downregulation by RNAi in vivo accelerates centriole loss while ectopic tethering of Polo to centrioles prevents centriole loss (Pimenta-Marques et al 2016). Thus, in this cell type, Polo appears to be required to maintain the very existence of the centrosome.…”

Section: Centrosomes In Asymmetric Fate-determining Cell Divisionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Centrioles,Centrosomes, Basal Bodies, and Cilia ofDrosophila melanogaster

Lattao¹,

Kovács²,

Glover

2017

Genetics

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Centrioles play a key role in the development of the fly. They are needed for the correct formation of centrosomes, the organelles at the poles of the spindle that can persist as microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) into interphase. The ability to nucleate cytoplasmic microtubules (MTs) is a property of the surrounding pericentriolar material (PCM). The centriole has a dual life, existing not only as the core of the centrosome but also as the basal body, the structure that templates the formation of cilia and flagellae. Thus the structure and functions of the centriole, the centrosome, and the basal body have an impact upon many aspects of development and physiology that can readily be modeled in Drosophila. Centrosomes are essential to give organization to the rapidly increasing numbers of nuclei in the syncytial embryo and for the spatially precise execution of cell division in numerous tissues, particularly during male meiosis. Although mitotic cell cycles can take place in the absence of centrosomes, this is an error-prone process that opens up the fly to developmental defects and the potential of tumor formation. Here, we review the structure and functions of the centriole, the centrosome, and the basal body in different tissues and cultured cells of Drosophila melanogaster, highlighting their contributions to different aspects of development and cell division.

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Section: Centrosomes In Asymmetric Fate-determining Cell Divisionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Centrioles,Centrosomes, Basal Bodies, and Cilia ofDrosophila melanogaster

Lattao¹,

Kovács²,

Glover

2017

Genetics

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“…Oocytes in many organisms have an added complication: spindle assembly occurs in the absence of centrosomes (referred to here as acentrosomal), the centriole-containing microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs). The reason why centrioles are often eliminated prior to meiosis I in oocytes is not known but has been discussed elsewhere (Pimenta-Marques, et al 2016; Severson, et al 2016). The consequences of this centrosome elimination on spindle assembly, however, are dramatic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chromosomal basis of meiotic acentrosomal spindle assembly and function in oocytes

et al. 2016

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Several aspects of meiosis are impacted by the absence of centrosomes in oocytes. Here we review four aspects of meiosis I that are significantly affected by the absence of centrosomes in oocyte spindles. One, microtubules tend to assemble around the chromosomes. Two, the organization of these microtubules into a bipolar spindle is directed by the chromosomes. Three, chromosome bi-orientation and attachment to microtubules from the correct pole require modification of the mechanisms used in mitotic cells. Four, chromosome movement to the poles at anaphase cannot rely on polar anchoring of spindle microtubules by centrosomes. Overall, the chromosomes are more active participants during acentrosomal spindle assembly in oocytes, compared to mitotic and male meiotic divisions where centrosomes are present. The chromosomes are endowed with information that can direct the meiotic divisions and dictate their own behavior in oocytes. Processes beyond those known from mitosis appear to be required for their bi-orientation at meiosis I. As mitosis occurs without centrosomes in many systems other than oocytes, including all plants, the concepts discussed here may not be not limited to oocytes. The study of meiosis in oocytes has revealed mechanisms that are operating in mitosis and will probably continue to do so.

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“… Two recent papers published in The Journal of Cell Biology (Borrego-Pinto et al, 2016) and Science ((Borrego-Pinto et al, 2016; Pimenta-Marques et al, 2016) have begun to shed light on the mechanism of centriole elimination during female oogenesis, highlighting a protective role for Polo kinase and the pericentriolar material. …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the nature of these mechanisms and why they occur remain a mystery. Recent studies from Borrego-Pinto et al (2016) and Pimenta-Marques et al (2016) shed light on this process using modern light microscopy in starfish and Drosophila oocytes to reveal surprising features of CE and its role in embryogenesis. Considered together, these studies highlight a conserved feature of CE, providing a beautiful example of how evolution has maintained some mechanistic aspects of CE while accommodating the unique biology of each system.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%