Contribution of noncentrosomal microtubules to spindle assembly in Drosophila spermatocytes.

ABSTRACT: Previous data suggested that anastral spindles, morphologically similar to those found in oocytes, can assemble in a centrosome-independent manner in cells that contain centrosomes. It is assumed that the microtubules that build these acentrosomal spindles originate over the chromatin. However, the actual processes of centrosome-independent microtubule nucleation, polymerisation, and sorting have not been documented in centrosome-containing cells. We have identified two experimental conditions in which centrosomes are kept close to the plasma membrane, away from the nuclear region, throughout meiosis I in Drosophila spermatocytes. Time-lapse confocal microscopy of these cells labelled with fluorescent chimeras reveals centrosome-independent microtubule nucleation, growth, and sorting into

SUBMITTER: Rebollo E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC317275 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature