Spatio-temporally separated cortical flows and spindle geometry establish physical asymmetry in fly neural stem cells

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 9;8(1):1383. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01391-w.

Abstract

Asymmetric cell division, creating sibling cells with distinct developmental potentials, can be manifested in sibling cell size asymmetry. This form of physical asymmetry occurs in several metazoan cells, but the underlying mechanisms and function are incompletely understood. Here we use Drosophila neural stem cells to elucidate the mechanisms involved in physical asymmetry establishment. We show that Myosin relocalizes to the cleavage furrow via two distinct cortical Myosin flows: at anaphase onset, a polarity induced, basally directed Myosin flow clears Myosin from the apical cortex. Subsequently, mitotic spindle cues establish a Myosin gradient at the lateral neuroblast cortex, necessary to trigger an apically directed flow, removing Actomyosin from the basal cortex. On the basis of the data presented here, we propose that spatiotemporally controlled Myosin flows in conjunction with spindle positioning and spindle asymmetry are key determinants for correct cleavage furrow placement and cortical expansion, thereby establishing physical asymmetry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actomyosin / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Brain / cytology
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Size
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Larva
  • Myosins / genetics
  • Myosins / metabolism*
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Neural Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Spindle Apparatus / genetics
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors
  • Pins protein, Drosophila
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • dlg1 protein, Drosophila
  • Actomyosin
  • Myosins