CDKD-dependent activation of CDKA;1 controls microtubule dynamics and cytokinesis during meiosis.
- Journal:
- Journal of Cell Biology
- Published:
- DOI:
- 10.1083/jcb.201907016
- Affiliations:
- 3
- Authors:
- 9
Research Highlight
A master regulator of meiosis in plants
© Clouds Hill Imaging Ltd./Corbis Documentary/Getty Images
Meiosis, a type of cell division that flowering plants use to produce pollen grains, is controlled by a master regulator of the cell cycle known as CDKA;1. This finding could lead to new plant-breeding strategies.
Working with the model plant Arabidopsis, a team led by researchers at Universität Hamburg has discovered that CDKA;1 controls the organization of microtubules — hollow, straw-like structures that move chromosomes around during meiotic cell division.
Arabidopsis plants normally complete the final separation phase of meiosis, which involves the physical creation of new cell walls, simultaneously in all four daughter cells. However, a slight reduction in CDKA;1 activity was sufficient to make this happen in two successive steps.
Manipulating CDKA;1 levels could thus help plant breeders better control the meiotic process in crops.
References
- Journal of Cell Biology 219, e201907016 (2020). doi: 10.1083/jcb.201907016
| Institutions | Authors | Share |
|---|---|---|
| University of Hamburg (UHH), Germany | 0.56 | |
| Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan | 0.33 | |
| University of Osnabrück (Uni Osnabrück), Germany | 0.11 |