AI Article Synopsis
- Researchers identified the gene called multiple asters (mast) in Drosophila, which codes for a 165 kDa protein.
- Mutations in the mast gene lead to neuroblasts that are highly polyploid and exhibit serious problems during cell division, such as irregular spindle formations.
- The mast protein is evolutionarily conserved and is important for organizing centrosomes and the mitotic spindle, as it has a strong affinity for microtubules and localizes to key structures during mitosis.
Article Abstract
Through mutational analysis in Drosopjila we have identified the gene multiple asters (mast), which encodes a new 165 kDa protein. mast mutant neuroblasts are highly polyploid and show severe mitotic abnormalities including the formation of mono- and multi-polar spindles organized by an irregular number of microtubule-organizing centres of abnormal size and shape. The mast gene product is evolutionarily conserved since homologues were identified from yeast to man, revealing a novel protein family. Antibodies against Mast and analysis of tissue culture cells expressing an enhanced green fluorescent protein-Mast fusion protein show that during mitosis, this protein localizes to centrosomes, the mitotic spindle, centromeres and spindle midzone. Microtubule-binding assays indicate that Mast is a microtubule-associated protein displaying strong affinity for polymerized microtubules. The defects observed in the mutant alleles and the intracellular localization of the protein suggest that Mast plays an essential role in centrosome separation and organization of the bipolar mitotic spindle.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC313969 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/emboj/19.14.3668 | DOI Listing |
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