A Sterile 20 Family Kinase and Its Co-factor CCM-3 Regulate Contractile Ring Proteins on Germline Intercellular Bridges.

ABSTRACT: Germ cells in most animals are connected by intercellular bridges, actin-based rings that form stable cytoplasmic connections between cells promoting communication and coordination [1]. Moreover, these connections are required for fertility [1, 2]. Intercellular bridges are proposed to arise from stabilization of the cytokinetic ring during incomplete cytokinesis [1]. Paradoxically, proteins that promote closure of cytokinetic rings are enriched on stably open intercellular bridges [1, 3, 4]. Given this inconsistency, the mechanism of intercellular bridge stabilization is unclear. Here, we used the C. elegans germline as a model for identifying molecular mechanisms regulating intercellular bridges. We report that bridges are actually highly dynamic, changing size at precise times during ge

SUBMITTER: Rehain-Bell K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5367925 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature