The initial expansion of the C. elegans syncytial germ line is coupled to incomplete primordial germ cell cytokinesis.

ABSTRACT: The C. elegans germline is organized as a syncytium in which each germ cell possesses an intercellular bridge that is maintained by a stable actomyosin ring and connected to a common pool of cytoplasm, termed the rachis. How germ cells undergo cytokinesis while maintaining this syncytial architecture is not completely understood. Here, we use live imaging to characterize primordial germ cell (PGC) division in C. elegans first-stage larvae. We show that each PGC possesses a stable intercellular bridge that connects it to a common pool of cytoplasm, which we term the proto-rachis. We further show that the first PGC cytokinesis is incomplete and that the stabilized cytokinetic ring progressively moves towards the proto-rachis and eventually integrates with it. Our results support a model in w

SUBMITTER: Bauer J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8327289 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature