Mutation of a Drosophila gamma tubulin ring complex subunit encoded by discs degenerate-4 differentially disrupts centrosomal protein localization.

ABSTRACT: We have cloned the Drosophila gene discs degenerate-4 (dd4) and find that it encodes a component of the gamma-tubulin ring complex (gammaTuRC) homologous to Spc98 of budding yeast. This provides the first opportunity to study decreased function of a member of the gamma-tubulin ring complex, other than gamma-tubulin itself, in a metazoan cell. gamma-tubulin is no longer at the centrosomes but is dispersed throughout dd4 cells and yet bipolar metaphase spindles do form, although these have a dramatically decreased density of microtubules. Centrosomin (CNN) remains in broad discrete bodies but only at the focused poles of such spindles, whereas Asp (abnormal spindle protein) is always present at the presumptive minus ends of microtubules, whether or not they are focused. This is consistent wi

SUBMITTER: Barbosa V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC317135 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature