Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published August 1990 | Published
Journal Article Open

Mutations at the asp locus of Drosophila lead to multiple free centrosomes in syncytial embryos, but restrict centrosome duplication in larval neuroblasts

Abstract

Mutations at abnormal spindle result in abnormally long and wavy microtubules in the meiotic spindles of males. Some of these spindles have a single pole and take the form of unopposed hemi-spindles. Unfertilised eggs produced by homozygous asp females may have either no nuclei, or a small number of large nuclei, consistent with there also being an effect upon female meiosis. Such eggs also display free centrosomes and independent arrays of microtubules. Embryos that have this phenotype are also present among the progeny of fertilised homozygous asp females, together with embryos that undergo varying degrees of aberrant morphogenesis, developing a variety of abnormal cuticle patterns. This latter category shows asynchronous mitoses prior to cellularisation, and has abnormal arrays of spindle microtubules. Such embryos can develop large areas that are either devoid of or have a reduced number of nuclei, in which there are centrosomes that have dissociated from the mitotic spindles. Neuroblasts in the brains of homozygous asp larvae display a high mitotic index, and have condensed chromosomes aligned as if blocked at metaphase. Immunostaining reveals that many cells contain a single centrosome connected to the metaphase chromosomes by microtubules in a hemi-spindle-like structure.

Additional Information

© 1990 by Company of Biologists. (Received 13 March 1990 - Accepted 26 April 1990) We thank M. Suffness for his generous gift of taxol. D.M.G. thanks the Cancer Research Campaign for a career development award and research support, and the MRC and SERC for project grants. J.C., I.M., M.C. and P.R. were funded by grants from CAYCT and FFPI.

Attached Files

Published - 605.full.pdf

Files

605.full.pdf
Files (10.4 MB)
Name Size Download all
md5:f4721131adc44d5436ca75b61eeec289
10.4 MB Preview Download

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023