Abstract
Correct segregation of genetic material relies on proper assembly and maintenance of the mitotic spindle. How the highly dynamic microtubules (MTs) are maintained in stable mitotic spindles is a key question to be answered. Motor and non-motor microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) have been reported to stabilize the dynamic spindle through crosslinking adjacent MTs. Mars, a novel MAP, is essential for the early development of Drosophila embryos. Previous studies showed that Mars is required for maintaining an intact mitotic spindle but did not provide a molecular mechanism for this function. Here we show that Mars is able to stabilize the mitotic spindle in vivo. Both in vivo and in vitro data reveal that the N-terminal region of Mars functions in the stabilization of the mitotic spindle by crosslinking adjacent MTs.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Blastoderm / metabolism
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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Drosophila / embryology
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Drosophila / genetics
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Drosophila / metabolism*
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Drosophila Proteins
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Gene Expression
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Genes, Lethal
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / chemistry
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
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Microtubules / metabolism*
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
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Protein Binding
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Protein Stability
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Protein Transport
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins
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Spindle Apparatus / genetics
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Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
Substances
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Drosophila Proteins
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Mars protein, Drosophila
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins
Grants and funding
This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Cluster of Excellence and DFG Research Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain; DFG Research Group 1756). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.