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Cytoskeleton

Knock 'em down!

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 4, pages 826–827 (2003)Cite this article

The group began their first study by characterizing mitosis in untreated Drosophila S2 cells and comparing it with cells that were treated with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeted against 25 kinesins and cytoplasmic dynein. Mitotic defects arose from RNAi treatment of eight kinesins and cytoplasmic dynein. Of the eight kinesins, four — Klp61F (BimC/Eg5), Klp10A (KinI), Klp67A (Kip3) and Ncd (Kin C) — were required for proper formation of the mitotic bipolar spindle during prometaphase; their absence gave rise to atypical spindles. Three more kinesins — CENP-meta (CENP-E), Klp3A (chromokinesin) and Nod (Kid) — had no effect on spindle morphology, but were required, along with Klp67A, for the proper alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate.

Later during cell division, the authors found the cytoplasmic dynein Dhc64C to be involved in the metaphase–anaphase transition, as depletion of Dhc64C caused cells to accumulate in metaphase. RNAi treatment of Pavarotti (MKLP1) gave rise to multinucleate interphase cells and cytokinesis defects, which indicated a role for this kinesin in forming and maintaining the central spindle. On the basis of these results, Vale's group then detailed a model for how microtubule motors function during mitosis.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS

  1. Goshima, G. & Vale, R. D. The roles of microtubule-based motor proteins in mitosis: comprehensive RNAi analysis in the Drosophila S2 line. J. Cell Biol. 162, 1003–1016 (2003)

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  2. Rogers, S. et al. Molecular requirements for actin-based lamella formation in Drosophila S2 cells. J. Cell Biol. 162, 1079–1088 (2003)

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Authors
  1. Katrin Bussell
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Bussell, K. Knock 'em down!. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 4, 826–827 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm1264

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